society 1886-1914

Question 1

social reforms introduce 1886-1914

Answer 1

housing:
-growing concern over poor housing linked to poor health, limited international support
-1885 working class housing act, local authorities allowed to destroy houses
-1890 housing of the working class act London councils give loans (1883 Bethnal Green)
-1903: first garden city at letchworth- combine best of the town and country but few towns
-1909 town planning act: not compulsory (certain legal standards)

workplace reforms:
-1891 factory act: mimic wage 11
-1906 trade dispute act: reversed taff vale
-1908 coal mines act: max 8 hour day
-1909 trade boards act: set up boards to oversee pay and conditions including setting up mimic wages in sweated industries
-1911 shops act: half day off for shop workers/week

-welfare: free school meals (1906), old age pensions (1908), national insurance (1911), school medical services

-service sector: expansion in retail (boots and Sainsbury’s), marks and Spencers

leisure industry:
-seaside towns grew like Blackpool, football league 1888, watching and betting on horses and dogs

Question 2

did society really improve in this period?

Answer 2

-10% unemployment 1886
-housing still inadequate
-high infant mortality rates (25% not reach first birthday)
-causal and seasonal unemployment
-strikes from 1910 to 1914
-welfare reforms not universal
-absolute poverty: 30% in London, York as seen in studies of booth and rowntree
-many shops middle and upper class, lower class had diet of bread, margarine, tea and sugar