After times of famine, war and economic dislocation, poverty increased with close to 80 percent of a region’s population was faced with possible starvation each day while almost 50 percent of Europe’s population were living on the subsistence level, barely having enough food and shelter to survive. The attitudes of those in the middle class and the more elite ranged from pity to distaste, proposing different solutions like punishing the poor, regulating them, or giving them help out of sympathy.…
During the mid 15th century to the early 18th century almost half of Europe’s total population could be considered poor and destitute. The attitudes of the clergy and the attitudes of the socially elite toward these people varied from pity to disgust, and their proposed solution to these problems differed. Some suggested helping all of the poor by giving them alms, some warned others to be careful of whom the money was given to and some people believed that being poor was a voluntary decision and if they wanted to get out of that situation, they do so without the help of others. In particular the clergy supported alms giving, government officials and the nobility advocated controlled giving, and some of the middle class were suspicious and judgmental and wanted the poor to work.…
The New Poor Law Amendment was an act which was intended to reform the country’s poverty relief system, keep people out of the workhouses and reduce outdoor relief. The sources suggest different insights on the view that the harshness associated with the new poor law was greatly exaggerated. Whilst source 18 relays some ideas of uncertainty on the view, source 16 and 17 show an extreme level of dissimilarity (Source 16 suggest agree with the view while source 17 suggests that the new poor law was absolutely horrendous.)…
It was very important that in the 19th century the poor law act was put in place this was due to the fact there were a lot of individuals who were extremely poor and couldn’t provide for themselves. The poor law act gave the individuals a chance to live even though most of the time individuals had to go to a workhouse they had to work for food and shelter the individuals, even when family were poor when they went to the working house they had to be separated to do different jobs, this was still rewarding after as they were given food and shelter. This act was incredibly important due to the fact that it give the individuals a chance to live and even though the conditions within the work house was horrendous it still shelter and they were given food to eat. The poor law act was important because it saved many individuals lives.…
In the 20th Century poverty was a serious cause which was blamed on the individual themselves because of their carelessness and laziness. Before 1900’s the needs of people grew as there was many problems such as no health care, education, social services or unemployment benefit available at all provided. Families began to grow while people came seriously ill from lack of food and poor living conditions. If you were poor and faced serious money problems then you were faced with finding your own way out of it without any help from the government. Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree were social commentators that set out to prove that it was indeed the fault of the individual who faced poverty. They were both shocked to find that poverty had causes…
One example of a turning point in our history is “The French Revolution”. The reason being for its importance is The French Revolution marked the beginning of prodigious changes that would affect world history. Despite the revolution occurring internally in France and only lasting twelve years (1787-1799), the lasting effects would be felt internationally, with direct repercussions reaching from areas as far as North America to the Dutch East Indies. Despite some of the Revolution's consequences being short-lived, it is obvious that after viewing the cultural, social, and political effects of the French Revolution it should be regarded as successful. Effects of the Revolution range from as petit as the spread of the metric system to as grand as the shift from absolutism to republicanism.…
The Poor Law was the way that the poor were supported in 1815. Each parish had to take care of its own poor and provide money to cover the basic costs of living for those who couldn’t. However, the cost of the Poor Law was increasing every year and many criticisms were found raising ideas of whether the poor law was helpful or not.…
Concerns about the extent of poverty in Britain played a major role in the Liberal Government introducing reform. After scientific reports conducted by Seebolm Rowntree and Charles Booth had identified the full extent of poverty within inner city Britain, the Liberals felt compelled to act.(1) However, there were other contributing factors which drove the Liberals towards reform.…
Today, poverty is prevalent throughout the world with 80% of humanity living on less than $10 a day. However, this isn’t the first time poverty is seen so frequently in society. During the Renaissance, approximately 50% of Europe’s population lived at a subsistence level with 80% of Europeans facing possible starvation in times of peril. In the midst of this time period, as poverty ran rampant it led to differing attitudes towards helping the poor as well as the concept of poverty. Poverty was viewed by the upper class as well as humanists as a negative influence to society due to characteristics like idleness which was thought to be the beginning of all evils. Meanwhile, religious officials like the clergy as well as artists thought that the poor should be assisted for spiritual benefits and believed that aiding the poor was only…
History is built up upon many turning points. A turning point is an idea, event, or action that directly or indirectly caused a change. It can cause a change in culture, society, economy, government etc. A great example of a turning point in history is the American Revolution.…
Historian Andre Marr argues that “Rowntree had begun to show that the condition of the poor was not simply a matter of their moral failure” (BBC The Making of Modern Britain from Queen Victoria to V.E.…
In "Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor," bell hooks argues that the poor are portrayed as lacking integrity and dignity, and is convinced that TV shows and films send out a message that people cannot feel good about themselves if they are poor. She postulates that the low self-esteem of the less fortunate would be restored if society as a whole changed how they share their resources and wealth; restoring a value system that has disappeared. hooks contends that it basically boils down to the fact that society and the government have the responsibility to intervene in changing the way that everyone looks at poverty, and should provide opportunities for the poor to meet and help each other. I agree with hooks; while this was the perception back in 1994 when her book was published, it is very sad to see that the same observations made by hooks of how the poor or impoverished are portrayed in media and society today remain the same.…
A historical turning point is a significant event in history that has led to lasting change. Many historical turning points have taken place in history; some minor, and others life changing. Some examples of turning points in history include the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Trail of Tears. Both of these events resulted in major outcomes that can be considered both positive and negative.…
In 19th century Britain, the upper class and even the Government held a unanimous view of the poor. Their view was that poverty was the result of moral failings and that these people were responsible for their own social circumstance. The social elite stereotyped the poor as drunken and lazy, and therefore undeserving of help or attention. This was reflected in the ‘laissez faire’ approach taken by the Government where they believed that poverty and hardship were not things that they had a responsibility to deal with. However, in the late 19th century and the early 20th century these attitudes began to change to a more accepting and sympathetic view to poverty. This was largely due to the writers Mayhew and Dickens, and the poverty reports made by Booth and Rowntree. The former both brought the issue of poverty to the forefront for the public; Mayhew through the ‘Morning Chronicle’ and ‘London Labour and the London Poor’; Dickens through his novels. Charles Dickens was seen as a voice to represent the poor and in novels such as ‘Our Mutual Friend’ he showed their despair, writing of the poor house: “Kill me sooner than take me there. Throw this child under the cart horses feet and a loaded wagon, sooner than take him there.” This convinced the public of the plight of the poor while the hard facts and figures presented by Booth and Rowntree convinced the Government. So, due to the writings of Mayhew and Dickens, the reports of Booth and Rowntree, worries for national efficiency, the creation of the Labour Party and the work of certain individuals such as Churchill and Lloyd George, the Liberal Government introduced a series of social reforms between 1906 and 1914 which reflected the changing views of the public and those in power. The new reforms dealt with poverty in child hood and old age, and poverty due to illness and low wages.…
People can impact the world with one tiny decision, which can change everyone entirely. Turning points are life-shifting events that cause lives to move in another direction. Turning points can also change history and the people surrounding them. This is explained in the article, “The Father of Chinese Aviation” by Rebecca Maskel, the memoir by Melba Pattillo Beals, Warriors Don't Cry, and the autobiography, I Never Had it Made, by Jackie Robinson. These people experience a life-changing moment through struggles and heart-warming thrills.…