Poverty and plenty in 19th century England

[Industrial Revolution]. [Parliamentary Acts relating to the relief of the poor].

€ 650.00

Rare British parliamentary papers on the relief of the poor and the management of newly enclosed land in Great Britain and Ireland. Published during the rise and height of the Industrial Revolution, the Poor Acts were part of Parliament's attempt to meet the demands of the changing times, with mixed success.

As the infrastructure of the countryside itself changed and the culmination of a series of Land Enclosure Acts limited freedom of movement and traditional ways to make a living, 19th century poverty overwhelmed or found missing the traditional social safety nets and aid of the Church or the use of common lands. With a population more reliant on wage-jobs and factory work, the Poor Acts intended to alleviate some of the pressure on the Church, partly by formalizing and structuring its role in social welfare programs, as indeed is done here. Included is a 1851 reprint of the Elizabethan laws which were still relevant in the 19th century, but in dire need of updating. They provide an interesting contrast to, for example, the Act which focuses on the building of turnpikes through enclosed land, and the collection together comprises an interesting history of social welfare in the United Kingdom.

A full listing of titles is available upon request.