HISTORY REVISION

THE LIBERAL REFORMS

POVERTY
Most Victorians believed that the poor were responsible for their own poverty but by
the beginning of the 20 th century people began to see there were social and
economic reasons for it. People were expected to save up for times when they
werent working such as sickness, unemployment and retirement. However, the poor
were unable to do this. Poverty came to public attention during this time because of
surveys, investigations and charity work.
The Poor Law: workhouses provide food and shelter, awful conditions, give up
responsibility for yourself and family, admit defeat, outdoor relief of payments
in cash or goods and services, pauper shame and disgrace

CHARITIES
Charities gave help in the form of money, clothes, food and accommodation. By
1905 there were around 700-800 charities in London alone. For example, Dr
Barnardo set up a charity in 1867 to help abandoned children and had established a
network of childrens homes by 1905. Abandoned children lived on the streets by
begging and thieving, with many dying from starvation, disease and neglect.
Barnardo is thought to have rescued 59,384 from destitution and helped 500,000
lead better lives
Salvation Army: missions in inner cities preaching word of God, turn criminals
away from sin, gave away hot soup and bread, William and Catherine Booth
went to poor, expanded to 45 branches by 1878, ran like an army, attentiongrabbing techniques to attract crowds and get money e.g. uniforms and
bands, 1900 running training centres, labour exchange, farm and brickworks
to employ and train poor so have purpose, gathered information so realised
poverty not their fault, three circles (live by crime, live by vice, honest poor
and secure jobs outside but disaster could drag into third circle)
Charles Booth: didnt believe 25% of workers living in poverty, set up team of
paid investigators, 1886-1903 regularly investigated living conditions, income
and spending of over 4000, Life and Labour of the People in London
published between 1889 and 1903, 31% living below poverty line i.e. couldnt
afford enough food, shelter and clothing, four groups (lowest class e.g.
criminals 1.25% 11,000, casual earners 11.25% 110,000, occasional earnings
(hit by trade depressions) 8% 75,000, low wages (less than 21 shillings a
week) 14.5% 129,000), 85% in poverty due to unemployment and low wages
Seebohm Rowntree: inspired by Charles Booth, Poverty: a Study of Town
Life, family of five could live on 21s8d a week, 28% of York in poverty, two
types (primary no chance 10% York, secondary living on the edge 18% York),
age above or below poverty line, reasons for poverty in York 1900-01 (death
of chief wage earner 16%, size of family 22%, regular work but low wages
52%, other 10%)

POLITICS
There had always been poor people in Britain but in the early 1900s it became an
important political issue because:

When the Boer War began in 1899, young men who volunteered were
rejected in their thousands as unfit with as many as two thirds in some
industrial areas. This was worrying in itself, but also because it looked as if
the British workforce didnt have the skills, strength or stamina to compete
with Germany and the USA.
In 1900 all the socialist groups joined to become the Labour Party which
pledged better living and working conditions for workers as well a fairer
distribution of wealth. The Liberal Party was afraid that they would take away
members and votes from them.
The Liberal Party came to power in 1906 with many younger Liberals such as
Lloyd George and Churchill challenging the traditional view that people we left
to find their own solutions. The New Liberals believed the State should
provide a framework enabling all to live in security and freedom.
Rowntree had published a book read by thousands and Booths books were
consulted by hundreds more. Some of these were New Liberals were
impressed by the new understanding that poverty was rarely the fault of the
poor and shocked that there were so many helpless poor.
Local schemes, often run by Liberals, such as providing clean piped water,
connecting sewage systems, lighting the streets and clean the streets had
shown what could be done on a small scale and therefore could possibly be
done nationally.

THE REFORMS
Children
Free school meals 1906 (poorest families, paid
for by local rates, 1914 over 158,000), school
medical inspections 1907 (compulsory medical
checks, recommend treatment, free but until
1912 had to pay for treatment), Childrens Act
1908 (protected persons so parents prosecuted
for cruelty, authorities visited and supervised
children suffered cruelty or neglect, childrens
homes registered and inspected, under 14s
broke the law not sent to adult prison, Borstals
equipped for young offenders, juvenile courts,
under 14s not allowed into pubs, under 16s not
sold cigarettes), school clinics 1912 (free medical
treatment, 1914 most local councils)

Work
Labour Exchange Act 1909 (one place to look for
job, more efficient both sides), National Insurance
1 1911 (illness, income below 160 a year,
manual and low-paid workers had to join, workers
paid 4d, employers 3d and Government 2d each
week, 10s a week for 13 weeks and then 5s for
13 weeks each year, free medical and maternity
care) National Insurance 2 1912 (unemployment,
trades with seasonal unemployment e.g.
shipbuilding and engineering, workers, employers
and government paid 2d each week, up to 7s6d
for 15 weeks each year), Pensions Act 1908 (over
70s, sliding scale below 21 up to 31 2s a year,
not in prison 10 years before, not continually
failed to work when able, single 5s a week,
married couple 7s6d then 10s a week)

PROBLEMS
Only half a million elderly qualified for state pensions. Only 10 million men and 4
million women were covered against sickness and 2.25 million, mostly men, against
unemployment. Although in 1909 the Royal Commission produced reports
suggesting either reforming or abolishing the Poor Law, the Government did nothing.
The reforms also had to be paid for but when Lloyd George introduced a budget in
1909 taxing the rich, the House of Lords opposed it. Many also believe people
should look after themselves and thought it was wrong for the State to step in as it

may make them dependent and lazy. However, after a general election in January
1910 the House of Lords agreed to the budget.