Ideological pressures for Poor Law

Question 1

What did Thomas Malthus do?

Answer 1

Worked on population growth and raised questions about the provision of Poor Relief, believed there should be no provision at all

Question 2

What did Joseph Townsend do?

Answer 2

Openly criticised the policy of Poor Relief in his 1786 ‘Dissertation on the Poor Laws’

Question 3

What was the impact of industrialisation?

Answer 3

Created more jobs and so created the belief that pauperism was the result of laziness

Question 4

What were the 3 beliefs between the Whigs and Tories on the reform debate?

Answer 4

• Maintain the current system
• Change a little
• Change it radically

Question 5

What did Thomas Paine speak about in the ‘Rights of Man’?

Answer 5

That the government had the responsibility, and should plan the welfare for its people

Question 6

What was Jeremy Bentham’s belief, what was it and who favoured it?

Answer 6

• Utilitarianism, Pleasure and Pain, government should promote the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people
• Popular among the growing middle class

Question 7

What was the impact of Utilitarianism?

Answer 7

• Influence on the future Poor Law Relief

Question 8

Who did Jeremy Bentham have influence over?

Answer 8

Edwin Chadwick (his secretary)