Poor Law Amendment Act 1834

Poor people coming to a workhouse for food, c. 1840 Wellcome L0006802

Sampson Kempthorne workhouse design for 300 paupers

Sampson Kempthorne workhouse design for 300 paupers, plan view

Thomas Frankland Lewis

Poor Law Amendment Act 1834

The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 (PLAA), also known as the New Poor Law, was a piece of British legislation that reformed the country's poverty relief system. Enacted during the reign of King William IV, it aimed to reduce the cost of poor relief and discourage the perceived dependency of the poor on state-provided assistance. The act represented a significant shift in the approach to social welfare in the United Kingdom, moving away from localized relief provided by the Old Poor Law, which had been in place since the Elizabethan era.

Background

Prior to the 1834 Act, the Old Poor Law (1601) allowed for a system of parish-based relief, which was funded by a local tax known as the poor rate. Assistance was provided in various forms, including monetary aid, food, and clothing. However, by the early 19th century, this system was under significant strain due to rapid population growth, industrialization, and the economic pressures of the Napoleonic Wars. Critics argued that the system was inefficient, expensive, and encouraged idleness among the able-bodied poor.

Provisions of the Act

The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 sought to address these concerns by:

• Centralizing the administration of poor relief through the creation of the Poor Law Commission, which oversaw the implementation of the act.
• Encouraging the establishment of workhouses, where the able-bodied poor could be housed and employed. The principle of "less eligibility" was introduced, meaning that the conditions within these workhouses were designed to be less appealing than the lowest-paying jobs outside, thereby discouraging reliance on aid.
• Abolishing the system of providing aid to the poor in their own homes (outdoor relief) for the able-bodied, focusing instead on providing assistance only within workhouses.
• Grouping parishes together into Poor Law Unions, which were responsible for administering poor relief and funding and managing their own workhouses.

Impact and Criticism

The implementation of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 was met with a mixed response. Proponents argued that it would lead to more efficient use of resources and reduce the burden of poor rates on landowners and the middle class. However, the act was also the subject of significant criticism and resistance, particularly from the working class and some social reformers. Critics argued that the workhouse system was inhumane and treated poverty as a crime. The conditions within workhouses were often harsh and degrading, designed to deter all but the most desperate from seeking aid.

The act also had significant social and political implications, contributing to debates about the role of the state in providing welfare and the rights and responsibilities of the poor. It highlighted the growing class divisions within British society and the differing perspectives on how to address poverty and unemployment in the context of industrialization and social change.

Legacy

The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 marked a pivotal moment in the history of social welfare in the United Kingdom. Its principles and the workhouse system remained in place until the early 20th century, influencing subsequent social policy developments. The act's emphasis on centralization, deterrence, and the stigmatization of poverty would be challenged and reevaluated over time, leading to the eventual development of the modern welfare state.

The debates and controversies surrounding the New Poor Law and its implementation reflect broader questions about social justice, the responsibilities of the state, and the rights of individuals in times of need. The legacy of the 1834 Act continues to inform discussions on welfare policy and the treatment of the poor in society.