The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 (4 & 5 Will. 4 c. 76) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by the Whig government of Earl Grey that reformed the country's poverty relief system. The existing system was based on England's Poor Law of 1601, and had been largely unchanged since then. The Amendment Act was called for after an investigation by the 1832 Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws made up of Edwin Chadwick, George Nichols and Nassau William Senior. This is a list of Acts of the Scottish Parliament. ... This is a list of Acts passed by the Parliament of Northern Ireland. ... This is a list of Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly passed by that body during its existence between 2000 and 2002 when it was suspended. ... This is a list of Measures of the National Assembly for Wales. ... The is a list of Orders in Council for Northern Ireland which are primary legislation for the province when the it is being directly ruled from London and also for those powers not devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. ... Statutory Instruments (SIs) are parts of United Kingdom law separate from Acts of Parliament which do not require full Parliamentary approval before becoming law. ... An Act of Parliament or Act is law enacted by the parliament (see legislation). ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons The Right Honourable Michael Martin MP Lord Speaker Hélène Hayman, Baroness Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups (as of May 5, 2005 elections) Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats... The Right Honourable Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC (13 March 1764–17 July 1845), known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was a British Whig statesman and Prime Minister. ... Social security primarily refers to a field of social welfare service concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Capital Winchester, then London from 11th century. ... The Poor Law Act 1601 also known as the Elizabethan Poor Law and Old Poor Law or 43rd Elizabeth formalised earlier practices of poor relief distribution in England and Wales. ... Events February 8 - Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, rebels against Elizabeth I of England - revolt is quickly crushed February 25 - Robert Devereux beheaded Jesuit Matteo Ricci arrives in China Bad harvest in Russia due to rainy summer Dutch troops drive Portuguese from Málaga Battle of Kinsale, Ireland Births... The 1832 Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws was a group set up to decide how to change the system of poor relief in Britain. ... Sir Edwin Chadwick (January 24, 1800–July 6, 1890) was an English social reformer, noted for his work to reform the Poor Laws and improve sanitary conditions and public health. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Nassau William Senior (September 26, 1790 - June 4, 1864), English economist, was born at Compton, Berkshire, the eldest son of the Rev. ...

The Amendment Act came two years after the 1832 Reform Act had extended the franchise to the middle-classes. Some historians have argued that this was a major factor in the PLAA being passed. The British Reform Act of 1832 (2 & 3 Will. ...

The 1832 Royal Commission's findings

See main article 1832 Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws
The Royal Commission's findings, which had most probably been predetermined, were that the old system was badly and expensively run. The Commission's recommendations were based on two principles. The first was less eligibility - conditions within workhouses should be made worse than the worst conditions outside of the workhouse so that workhouses served as a deterrent - only the most needy would consider entering them .The other was the "workhouse test", that relief should only be available in the workhouse. A problem with this system was the urban rate payers were faced with a dramatic increase in their poor rate because the principle of less eligibility made the rural poor migrate where there was work. The 1832 Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws was a group set up to decide how to change the system of poor relief in Britain. ... Less eligibility One of the principles of the new system of poor relief that was introduced by the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act was that of less eligibility. The principle did not apply to children, who were held to be blameless for their predicament. ... Former workhouse at Nantwich, dating from 1780 A workhouse was a place where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work. ... In Britain, under the 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law the poor rate was a tax on property levied on the parish whch was used to provide poor relief to the parish poor. ...

When the act was introduced however it had been partly watered down. The workhouse test and the idea of "less eligibility" were never mentioned themselves and the recommendation of the Royal Commission - that 'outdoor relief' (relief given outside of a workhouse) should be abolished - was never implemented. Policy officially changed after the passing of the Outdoor Labour Test Order which 'allowed' outdoor relief. For specific national programs, see Social Security (United States), National insurance (UK), Social Security (Sweden) Social security mainly refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized needs, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ... The Outdoor Labour Test Order was a piece of policy issued by the Poor Law Commission on 13th April 1842 which allowed the use of outdoor relief to the able-bodied poor. ... For specific national programs, see Social Security (United States), National insurance (UK), Social Security (Sweden) Social security mainly refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized needs, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ...

Utilitarianism

Edwin Chadwick, a major contributor to the Commissions report, developed Jeremy Bentham’s theory of utilitarianism, the idea that the success of something could be measured by whether it secured the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. This idea of utilitarianism underpinned the Poor Law Amendment Act. Chadwick believed that a central authority was needed to maintain standards and that the poor rate would reach its 'correct' level when the workhouse was seen as a deterrent and less people claimed relief. Bentham believed that "the greatest good for the greatest number" could only be achieved when wages found their true levels in a free-market system. Ironically the Poor Law Amendment Act meant greater state intervention. Sir Edwin Chadwick (January 24, 1800–July 6, 1890) was an English social reformer, noted for his work to reform the Poor Laws and improve sanitary conditions and public health. ... Utilitarianism (1861), see Utilitarianism (book). ...

The Terms of the Poor Law Amendment Act

• The Bill established a Poor Law Commission to oversee the national operation of the system. This included the forming together of small parishes into Poor Law Unions and the building of workhouses in each union for the giving of poor relief.

• The Amendment Act did not ban all forms of outdoor relief. Not until the 1840s would the only method of relief be for the poor to enter a Workhouse. The Workhouses were to be made little more than prisons and families were normally separated upon entering a Workhouse. Outdoor relief was 'discouraged' but not abolished.

• The Act called for parishes to be put into Poor Law Unions so that relief could be provided more easily. Each union was to establish a workhouse which met the principle of less eligibility.

The Poor Law Commission was a body established to administrate poor relief after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act (1834). ... For specific national programs, see Social Security (United States), National insurance (UK), Social Security (Sweden) Social security mainly refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized needs, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ... A Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. ... Less eligibility One of the principles of the new system of poor relief that was introduced by the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act was that of less eligibility. The principle did not apply to children, who were held to be blameless for their predicament. ...

Implementation

The programme of reform was not laid down by Parliament. Commissioners were to interpret and implement the law. When the new Amendment was applied to the industrial North of England (an area the law had never considered during reviews), the system failed catastrophically as many found themselves temporarily unemployed, due to recessions or a fall in stock demands, so called 'cyclical unemployment' and were reluctant to enter a Workhouse, despite it being the only method of gaining aid. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total 130...

The Poor Law Commission

The central body set up to administer the new system for the Poor Law Commission. The Commission worked in Somerset House and was initially made up of: The Poor Law Commission was a body established to administrate poor relief after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act (1834). ... The central courtyard of Somerset House in London. ...

• Thomas Frankland Lewis - former Tory MP
• George Nicholls - Overseers of the old system
• John George Shaw Lefevre - A lawyer
• Edwin Chadwick, a writer of the Commission's Poor Law report was only made a Secretary - a decision which made him bitterly disappointed.

Thomas Frankland Lewis (1780-1855) was a British Poor Law Commissioner. ... George Nicholls was a British Poor Law Commissioner after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act. ... George Shaw Lefevre was a British Poor Law Commissioner after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act. ... Sir Edwin Chadwick (January 24, 1800–July 6, 1890) was an English social reformer, noted for his work to reform the Poor Laws and improve sanitary conditions and public health. ...

Powers of the Poor Law Commission

The Poor Law Commission was independent of Parliament which made it powerless against criticisms from Parliament itself. Although the Poor Law Commission could issue directives the Poor Law Commission had no real powers to make reluctant parishes implement its directives. However the Poor Law Commission did have powers to veto workhouse appointments, set dietaries, and centralise accounting procedures.

Putting Parishes into Unions

The Poor Law Commission had to put parishes into unions as these were to be the administrative unit for the registration of births, marriages and deaths which was to be introduced in 1837.

Gilbert's Act

One problem with the Poor Law Commission encountered was that many parishes had already grouped together under Gilbert's Act. Many parishes refused to break up these amalgamations. Gilberts Act (1782) also known as The Relief of the Poor Act 1782 was a poor relief Act which aimed to organise poor relief on a county basis, these counties would be grouped into parishes which could set up workhouses between them. ...

Select Vestries

Another issue was that some parishes had set up their own select vestries under the Sturges-Bourne Act passed in 1819. These were committees which were responsible for Poor Law administration which could employ assistant commissioners. The Act was passed in an attempt to rid the Poor Law relief system of corruption. Some parishes were still using the terms of older Acts rather than the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

Workhouses

The Poor Law Commission had no powers to insist that unions built new workhouses although they could make them improve existing ones. A Board of Guardians could delay the implementation of the Poor Law Amendment Act through negotiation. Boards of Gurdians were committees elected after the Poor Law Amendment Act by those who had to pay a poor rate. ...

Problems with the Poor Law Amendment Act

After 1834 Poor Law policy aimed to:

• Transfer unemployed rural workers to urban areas where there was work
• Protect urban rate payers from paying too much.

It was impossible to meet both as the principle of less eligibility made people search for work in towns and cities. Workhouses were built and paupers transferred to these urban areas.However, the Settlement Laws were used to protect rate payers from paying too much. Workhouse construction was slow as was amalgamating unions. Outdoor relief did continue after the PLAA. Less eligibility One of the principles of the new system of poor relief that was introduced by the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act was that of less eligibility. The principle did not apply to children, who were held to be blameless for their predicament. ...

The board issued further edicts on outdoor relief: For specific national programs, see Social Security (United States), National insurance (UK), Social Security (Sweden) Social security mainly refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized needs, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ...

• Outdoor Labour Test Order
• Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order

The implementation of the act proved impossible particularly in the industrial north which caused suffer from cyclical unemployment. Outdoor relief was both more humane and cheaper. The cost of implementing Settlement Laws in operation since the 1600s was also costly and therefore was not implemented fully - it often proved too costly to enforce the removal of paupers. The Commission could issue directives, however these were often not implemented fully and in some cases ignored. The Outdoor Labour Test Order was a piece of policy issued by the Poor Law Commission on 13th April 1842 which allowed the use of outdoor relief to the able-bodied poor. ... This article should appear in one or more categories. ...

The PLAA was implemented differently and unevenly across England and Wales. One of the criticisms of the 1601 Poor Law was its varied implementation. The law was also interpreted differently in different parishes leading to an uneven system.

Opposition to the Poor Law

See main article Opposition to the Poor Law. Both the Elizabethan Poor Law and the Poor Law Amendment Act attracted a great deal of opposition from a wide range of people in society, from paupers and workers; to the landed gentry and academics. ...

Fierce hostility and organised opposition from workers, politicians and religious leaders eventually lead to the Amendment Act being amended, removing the very harsh measures of the Workhouses to a certain degree. The Andover workhouse scandal, where conditions in the Andover Union Workhouse were found to be inhumane and dangerous, prompted a government review and the The Andover workhouse scandal occurred following events at the workhouse in Andover, United Kingdom, in the 19th century. ... Statistics Population: 52,000 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SU3645 Administration District: Test Valley Region: South East England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Hampshire Historic county: Hampshire Services Police force: Hampshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: South Central Post office and telephone Post town...

Historical interpretations

Marxist

The Marxist interpretation of the Poor Law was that the newly-enfranchised middle-classes after the 1832 Reform Act were able to exploit the working classes by the legislation which built harsh workhouses and made claiming poor relief more difficult. These classes, at this time where unable to vote. The New Poor Law would decrease the amount of tax being paid by the bourgeoisie serving their interests. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The workhouse system meant that the peasants and working class could be kept under strict control as opposed to the system of outdoor relief under the old poor law. It was feared that this system could lead to a rise against the ruling class as happened in the French Revolution. The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on...

Traditionalist

The traditionalist view is that there was more continuity with the previous system than change. Faced with unrest the rich simply reasserted control.

Revisionist

A mixture of the Marxist and Traditionalist views which states the rich reasserted their control but through a capitalist system which 'exploited' the working class.

See also

• Outdoor Labour Test Order
• Poor Law
• Workfare
• Welfare

The Outdoor Labour Test Order was a piece of policy issued by the Poor Law Commission on 13th April 1842 which allowed the use of outdoor relief to the able-bodied poor. ... Former workhouse at Nantwich, dating from 1780 The Poor Law was the system for the provision of social security in operation in England and the rest of the United Kingdom from the 16th century until the establishment of the Welfare State in the 20th century. ... Workfare is an alternative model to conventional Social Welfare systems. ... Welfare has several meanings: Welfare, the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc. ...

External link

• Text of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act
• Spartacus article on the 1843 Poor Law Amendment Act