Why the Old Poor Law was attacked?

Industralisation, Urbanisation and Povetry

By the beginning of the 19th century society had changed
There was a massive population growth, alongside a volatile labour market had led to mechanisation and industralisation
Ultimately meant that new urban environments developed that were not built to cope with such an influx of people
This lead to:
An increase in the number of poor
An increase in economic recessions
Vunerability of larger numbers of the population to povetry
Concentration of poor people in towns and cities (they became more visible)

1 of 6

Some like William Cobbett wanted to keep the old system and even suggested increasing poor rates
Others like Robert Owen and Tom Paine wanted to modify the system
Others wanted to change the system altogether and their opinions were listened to by the government
This included: Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, Jeremy Bentham and Edwin Chadwick
They believed that the Old Poor Law encouraged laziness and vice, and that the law itself was the cause of povetry

2 of 6

Most important reason why they changed the law
In 1784 the cost was £2 million
By 1817, it cost £7.9 million and by 1831 it cost £7 million
Costs had increased due to the Napoleonic Wars and a series of poor harvests in 1820s
Caused support for Malthus' views
And that poor relief should be a deterrent

3 of 6

Under the old system, there was alledged "vested interests"
For example, contracts for supplying food was given to local tradesmen rather than put out to local tender
In 1819 the Government allowed parishes to organise "Select Vestries", committees that would specialise in Poor Law Administration
Corruption continued, eg. the Morpeth Select Vestry had a vested interest in the sale of beer and it was alledged that most relief payments ended up being spent in the local ale house
So corruption plus rising rates led to unhappy ratepayers

4 of 6

In some local places local overseers or vestries had tried to solve the increasing rising rates but using different systems
In Nottigham, George Nicholls and Rev. Robert Lowe tried to reduce rates
By eliminating the allowance system and imposing harsh discipline in the workhouse
As a result, the workhouse became an object of fear and poor law expenditure was reduced from £1884 to £786 between 1822 and 1824
The Government looked on this "alternative solutions" with favour for obvious reasons

5 of 6

There was a fear of revolution in the countryside
Poor harvests in 1829 and 1830
Poor Law spending per head had decreased in the 1820s
And the introduction of new machinery had led to violence like the Swing Riots
Machines and workhouses were attacked across the country
The rioters were crushed and harsh penalties meted out but the Government demanded a harsher punishment towards the poor
Revolution going on in France as well, worries that revolution would spread to over here

6 of 6