liberal refroms
The Liberal Reforms 1906-1914
Why did the Liberals introduce Social reform 1906-1914?
Ever since the Liberal’s implemented social reform 1906-1914, historians have been divided as to why such reform occurred. However, there are some key reasons why the Liberal’s implemented reform:
Reason 1: Social investigations of Booth and Rowntree
At the end of the nineteenth century middle class social explorers such as Charles Booth and the Quaker social reformer Seebohm Rowntree highlighted unprecedented levels of poverty in different parts of England. From Booth’s investigation of the social conditions of East London he published The Life and Labour of the People of London, which appeared 1889 – 1903. He found that 30% of East London were living below what Booth called a ‘poverty line’ which meant that the family income was insignificant to meet basic needs such as food, rent and clothing. These findings were amplified by Rowntree’s study of conditions in York which found that 28% of York were living in some degree of poverty, either what he called ‘primary’ poverty when a family income fell below the 21 shillings required to maintain physical efficiency, or ‘secondary’ poverty, where spending took the residual income below the poverty line. The importance of the findings by Booth and Rowntree as a motive for social reform was that it highlighted the fact that poverty was not due to personal inadequacies, but attributed to low levels of wages, the uncertainty or irregularity of employment, and from the ravages of sickness, infirmity and old age.1
One of the most famous investigations into poverty was carried out by Charles Booth. He conducted extensive research in London and presented his findings as hard, statistical facts – not opinions. He showed that poverty had causes often beyond the control of the poor themselves. These causes included low pay, unemployment, sickness and old age.
Another investigation into poverty in York was made by
Why did the Liberals introduce Social reform 1906-1914?
Ever since the Liberal’s implemented social reform 1906-1914, historians have been divided as to why such reform occurred. However, there are some key reasons why the Liberal’s implemented reform:
Reason 1: Social investigations of Booth and Rowntree
At the end of the nineteenth century middle class social explorers such as Charles Booth and the Quaker social reformer Seebohm Rowntree highlighted unprecedented levels of poverty in different parts of England. From Booth’s investigation of the social conditions of East London he published The Life and Labour of the People of London, which appeared 1889 – 1903. He found that 30% of East London were living below what Booth called a ‘poverty line’ which meant that the family income was insignificant to meet basic needs such as food, rent and clothing. These findings were amplified by Rowntree’s study of conditions in York which found that 28% of York were living in some degree of poverty, either what he called ‘primary’ poverty when a family income fell below the 21 shillings required to maintain physical efficiency, or ‘secondary’ poverty, where spending took the residual income below the poverty line. The importance of the findings by Booth and Rowntree as a motive for social reform was that it highlighted the fact that poverty was not due to personal inadequacies, but attributed to low levels of wages, the uncertainty or irregularity of employment, and from the ravages of sickness, infirmity and old age.1
One of the most famous investigations into poverty was carried out by Charles Booth. He conducted extensive research in London and presented his findings as hard, statistical facts – not opinions. He showed that poverty had causes often beyond the control of the poor themselves. These causes included low pay, unemployment, sickness and old age.
Another investigation into poverty in York was made by