New Liberalism 1902-1918: Background before the Course

Attitudes to Public Health

• Government followed policy of Laissez-Faire which meant to 'leave alone'.
• Many health scares occurred such as the spread of cholera
• The Government believed it was the local councils responsibility to clean up
• There was never a law to compel companies to clean up their sewage/waste
• 1893-1903: 37% of army recruits were rejected as medically unfit
• Most men volunteering for the Boer War were turned away due to poor health
• Issues such as TB, rickets and polio could have been prevented but were prevalent amongst the poor

National Efficiency: Ability to have a healthy workforce (this increases productivity)

• Britain wanted to maintain its economic supremacy
• The strain of protecting its empire was showing
• Campaigners argued national policies should be introduced to tackle poverty
• Royal Commission showed there was a decline in fitness amongst children
• Prosperity and security needed to be maintained
• People were expected to save wages but few could causing dread of sickness, unemployment and retirement due to no pensions

The Poor Law in the 19th Century

• 1834: New poor law was introduced
• Some thought it would reduce the cost to look after the poor, take beggars off the street and encourage the poor to…