The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 was a significant piece of legislation in the history of social welfare in the United Kingdom. It represented a continuation of the Poor Law reforms initiated by the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which had established the system of workhouses and placed significant restrictions on public assistance for the poor. While the 1834 Act had been focused primarily on reducing the cost of poor relief, the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 addressed emerging social issues and continued to shape the way poverty and public assistance were handled.
Background and context
By the mid-19th century, Britain was experiencing significant social and economic changes. The country was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, which led to urbanisation, increased inequality, and growing poverty in cities. The government’s response to poverty, largely based on the 1834 Poor Law, was highly controversial. The system of workhouses, which had been introduced by the 1834 Act, was intended to be a deterrent to the poor, offering the worst possible conditions to discourage dependence on state assistance. However, by the 1860s, the system faced criticism for its harshness and inadequacy.
By the time the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 was introduced, there were growing calls for reform to address issues of overcrowding in workhouses, conditions for the sick, the elderly, and the disabled, and the overall inadequacy of the poor relief system in coping with the needs of an increasingly industrialised society.
Key provisions
While the 1867 Act did not completely overhaul the Poor Law system, it introduced several important reforms aimed at addressing some of the flaws of the 1834 Act. Here are some of the key provisions:
Consolidation of Poor Law administration
The Act introduced a more centralised and uniform system for administering poor relief. This was a response to the growing complexity of managing poor relief in industrial cities, where poverty had become more visible due to the rise of slums and overcrowded urban areas.
It gave more authority to Boards of Guardians (local authorities responsible for administering poor relief), but also set up new mechanisms for coordinating and overseeing the workhouses and other relief services.
Provision of relief for the sick and disabled
One of the major reforms of the 1867 Act was the introduction of medical relief for the sick and disabled outside the workhouse system. Before this Act, medical treatment was often only available to those within the workhouse, and many poor people were denied help if they could not meet the stringent requirements for entering the workhouse.
The Act made provisions for outdoor relief to be given to the sick and infirm, meaning that poor individuals and families could receive assistance without being forced to enter the workhouse, especially if they were unable to work due to illness or disability.
Regulation of workhouse conditions
The Act sought to improve the conditions inside the workhouses, which were notorious for their harshness. Workhouses had been designed to be deliberately unattractive and unpleasant to discourage people from seeking relief.
While it did not abolish the workhouse system, the Act aimed to improve the living conditions within them, ensuring that the poor received more humane treatment. For example, it provided for better food, clothing, and medical care for the poor who had to live in the workhouse.
Employment of the able-bodied poor
The 1834 Poor Law had focused heavily on making workhouses unattractive to able-bodied poor people, emphasizing that the poor should work for their relief. However, by 1867, it became apparent that simply providing a harsh environment was not an adequate solution for addressing the causes of poverty.
The 1867 Act took a more pragmatic approach by encouraging public works schemes and other forms of employment for the able-bodied poor. This helped address unemployment more effectively than the punitive measures of the earlier Poor Law system.
Improved benefits for the aged poor
The Act made some provisions for the elderly, particularly for those who were too old to work and had no other means of support. While there was no comprehensive old-age pension system at the time, the 1867 Act was a step toward recognizing the need for support for the elderly poor.
Support for poor children
The Act also introduced reforms aimed at providing relief for children from poor families. Although not as extensive as modern child welfare programs, the 1867 Act acknowledged the vulnerability of children and sought to prevent child labour in workhouses and provide them with better living conditions.
Impact
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 was part of a broader movement of social reform that sought to alleviate the worst aspects of poverty in Victorian society. While it did not completely dismantle the punitive aspects of the Poor Law system, it represented a step forward in improving the lives of the poor in the following ways:
More humane treatment of the poor
The Act marked a shift toward more compassionate treatment of the poor, particularly for the sick, elderly, and children. It acknowledged that those who were unable to work due to illness or age should not be forced to endure the harsh conditions of the workhouse.
Expansion of outdoor relief
The provision of outdoor relief helped alleviate the harshness of the workhouse system and allowed poor families to receive assistance without having to enter the degrading environment of the workhouse. This was a significant reform for working-class families, particularly in urban areas.
Strengthened local government involvement
The Act gave local authorities more control over the administration of poor relief, which allowed for more tailored and responsive solutions to local poverty issues. However, it also helped ensure that poor relief was more standardised across different regions of Britain.
Improved public health and welfare
With provisions for better medical care for the poor, the Act laid the groundwork for future public health reforms, especially regarding the care of the sick and disabled. The introduction of outdoor relief for medical care marked an early step toward more comprehensive healthcare services for the poor.
Partial success, but many problems remained
Despite these reforms, the Act did not fully address the root causes of poverty. It did not eliminate the stigma of poverty or the difficult conditions faced by the poor. Many critics argued that the Poor Law system still failed to provide adequate support for the working poor, particularly in rural areas and during times of economic downturn.
Further reforms in the 20th century
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 was an important moment in the history of social welfare in Britain, but it was not the final word on poverty relief. Later reforms, such as the National Insurance Act of 1911 and the establishment of the welfare state after World War II, would go much further in addressing the needs of the poor and creating a more comprehensive social safety net.
Conclusion
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 represented a significant shift in the way poverty was addressed in Victorian Britain. While it did not completely dismantle the Poor Law system or its emphasis on workhouses, it made important improvements to the lives of the poor, particularly in terms of medical care, outdoor relief, and conditions within the workhouses.
The Act was part of a broader social reform movement that recognised the need for more humane treatment of the poor and laid the groundwork for future welfare reforms in the UK. However, many of the systemic problems of poverty and inequality persisted, and it would take further legislative action in the 20th century to fully address these issues.
Read more about the related legislation passed by the UK Government