Attitudes Towards Poverty: 1850-1950 Essay Example
Table of contents
I. Victorian Era (1850-1900) 2 II. Influential authors 4
a. Charles Booth 4
b. Seebohm Rowntree 4
c. Henry Mayhew 5 III. 1900-1950 6 IV. Reasons for the change in attitude 7
Writings on poverty 7
Britain’s realisation 7
Extension of the right to vote 8
Spread of socialism 8
Trade unionism 8
Emergence of the Labour Party 8 V. Conclusion 9 VI. Bibliography 9
This research paper will analyse how English conceptions of poverty changed through the time frame 1850-1950 ,why it changed and some of the authors who contributed to this change. To explain more clearly the ideas, events occurred during those times will be used to support the arguments. We will proceed in a chronological way.
Victorian Era (1850-1900)
1850: Victorian Era. By 1851, the industrial evolution shifted large mass of people from rural areas to urban areas where various jobs were available, however inexperienced and unqualified workers received low and irregular wages. The repeal of the Corn Law and the enclosure movements discouraged people from investing in agriculture in rural areas, so they moved to towns to work in factories.
Many Victorians struggled to understand and explain poverty. They did not know whom to hold responsible for poverty: was it the poor themselves because of their laziness and irresponsibility or was it all due to circumstances? However they were numerous in adopting the “self-help” attitude. They believed that everyone should fend for themselves and should be responsible for their own survival and that they should not seek the help of others. According to them, poverty could be overcome by hard work and anyone could be successful. “Many Victorians (not all) felt that the poor were to blame for their poverty”.
Historians had mixed opinions about the impact of industrialisation on poverty: on one hand, some believed that industrialisation brought upon better living conditions and higher wages, on the other hand some argued
I. Victorian Era (1850-1900) 2 II. Influential authors 4
a. Charles Booth 4
b. Seebohm Rowntree 4
c. Henry Mayhew 5 III. 1900-1950 6 IV. Reasons for the change in attitude 7
Writings on poverty 7
Britain’s realisation 7
Extension of the right to vote 8
Spread of socialism 8
Trade unionism 8
Emergence of the Labour Party 8 V. Conclusion 9 VI. Bibliography 9
This research paper will analyse how English conceptions of poverty changed through the time frame 1850-1950 ,why it changed and some of the authors who contributed to this change. To explain more clearly the ideas, events occurred during those times will be used to support the arguments. We will proceed in a chronological way.
Victorian Era (1850-1900)
1850: Victorian Era. By 1851, the industrial evolution shifted large mass of people from rural areas to urban areas where various jobs were available, however inexperienced and unqualified workers received low and irregular wages. The repeal of the Corn Law and the enclosure movements discouraged people from investing in agriculture in rural areas, so they moved to towns to work in factories.
Many Victorians struggled to understand and explain poverty. They did not know whom to hold responsible for poverty: was it the poor themselves because of their laziness and irresponsibility or was it all due to circumstances? However they were numerous in adopting the “self-help” attitude. They believed that everyone should fend for themselves and should be responsible for their own survival and that they should not seek the help of others. According to them, poverty could be overcome by hard work and anyone could be successful. “Many Victorians (not all) felt that the poor were to blame for their poverty”.
Historians had mixed opinions about the impact of industrialisation on poverty: on one hand, some believed that industrialisation brought upon better living conditions and higher wages, on the other hand some argued