Poor Law

The Poor Law was the system for the provision of social security in operation in England and the United Kingdom from the 16th century until the establishment of the Welfare State in the 20th century.

The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834

Dissatisfaction with the system grew at the beginning of the 19th century. The 1601 system had costs that fell locally on each individual parish and was widely perceived as implemented in a way that actually encouraged the underlying problems, pushing more people into poverty even while it helped those who were already in poverty. Jeremy Bentham argued for a disciplinary, punitive approach to social problems, The writings of Thomas Malthus focused attention on the problem of overpopulation, and the growth of illegitimacy. David Ricardo argued that there was an "iron law of wages". The effect of poor relief, in the view of the reformers, was to undermine the position of the "independent labourer". In the period following the Napoleonic Wars, several reformers altered the function of the "poorhouse" into the model for a deterrent workhouse.

Related Topics:
19th century - 1601 - Jeremy Bentham - Thomas Malthus - David Ricardo - Napoleonic Wars

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In 1832, a commission was launched to review the operation of the system. It was strongly influenced by Nassau Senior who did much of the work involved with diagnosing the problems and proposing and implementing solutions.

Related Topics:
1832 - Nassau Senior

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The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 was based in two core principles. One was "less eligibility": that the position of the pauper should be less eligible (that is, less to be chosen) than that of the independent labourer. Outdoor relief was abolished. The other was the "workhouse test", that relief should only be available in the workhouse. The reformed workhouses were to be uninviting, so that anyone capable of coping outside them would choose not to be in one. It also established a Poor Law Board to oversee the operation of the system on a national scale.

Related Topics:
Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 - Poor Law Board

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The abuses and shortcomings of the system are documented in the novels of Charles Dickens. Despite the aspirations of the reformers, the Poor Law was unable to make the workhouse as bad as

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life outside: one attempt to do so, at the Andover workhouse, led to a national scandal in 1845. The administrators of the Poor Law came increasingly to rely on the "stigma" or shame associated with the Poor Law.

Related Topics:
Andover - 1845

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The Poor Law was the only local administration in much of the United Kingdom, and the powers of the Guardians were gradually expanded to include education, public health, and hospitals. This system became the basis for local government in England and Wales.

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