Poor Law
1. Explain why the New Poor Law Amendment Act (1834) was so controversial.
There were many arguments raised about the poor law amendment act of 1834, this Act was thought to be the most contentious piece of legislation passed during the era of the Whig's. At the time, it was a lot about saving money, the upper class did not want to pay towards the poor law, as they believed they were lazy and unworthy. The taxpayers, and ratepayers believed it to be wrong they should be paying to help the poor. The workhouse system was one of the most inhumane of all time, humiliating and demeaning all the poor people that entered it. When families' entered the workhouse, the husband, wife, and children would be separated from each other, allowing the mother very little contact with her children. The men would be dressed in a uniform, for all to know he was destitute, and in the hope, it would bring shame to him and his family. The workhouses were such a dreadful and appalling place, people would try all ways to survive rather than enter one of these places. These places were opened for one reason, not to help the poor, but to help the rich to stay rich. The parish council helped the poor in many ways, but the new poor law had taken away the help they received from them. The speenhamland system was one way the parish council helped the poor, they would make up their wage, but the rich did not like this system, as it was costing them too much money. Therefore, the New Poor Law Act was simply brought out to make the workhouse conditions as dreadful and appalling as possible, in the hope the poor would not enter into one. This would save the money of the Landowners and Gentry, as they would not have the responsibility of feeding these families. They had a prevailing attitude to the poor, believing it to be their own liability to look after their family. There were many, who were not on the side of the poor, including Edwin Chadwick, who had a great say in the
There were many arguments raised about the poor law amendment act of 1834, this Act was thought to be the most contentious piece of legislation passed during the era of the Whig's. At the time, it was a lot about saving money, the upper class did not want to pay towards the poor law, as they believed they were lazy and unworthy. The taxpayers, and ratepayers believed it to be wrong they should be paying to help the poor. The workhouse system was one of the most inhumane of all time, humiliating and demeaning all the poor people that entered it. When families' entered the workhouse, the husband, wife, and children would be separated from each other, allowing the mother very little contact with her children. The men would be dressed in a uniform, for all to know he was destitute, and in the hope, it would bring shame to him and his family. The workhouses were such a dreadful and appalling place, people would try all ways to survive rather than enter one of these places. These places were opened for one reason, not to help the poor, but to help the rich to stay rich. The parish council helped the poor in many ways, but the new poor law had taken away the help they received from them. The speenhamland system was one way the parish council helped the poor, they would make up their wage, but the rich did not like this system, as it was costing them too much money. Therefore, the New Poor Law Act was simply brought out to make the workhouse conditions as dreadful and appalling as possible, in the hope the poor would not enter into one. This would save the money of the Landowners and Gentry, as they would not have the responsibility of feeding these families. They had a prevailing attitude to the poor, believing it to be their own liability to look after their family. There were many, who were not on the side of the poor, including Edwin Chadwick, who had a great say in the