Why was there pressure for social reform in the years 1880-1914? (3.6)

Henry Mayhew

one of the first investigative journalists
his investigations were not systematic and his statistics were unrealiable
they gave an exaggerated picture of the extent of poverty in London
his need to make a living led him to be less scrupulous with the truth
Mayhew challenged the accepted idea that the poor were responsible for their own poverty
he warned of the consequences of inaction
Mayhew laid the basis of the investigations of Booth and Rowntree

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his social conscience drove him to investigate the nature of poverty in London
he undertook a detailed study of the poor in London
Booth was convinced that most of the poor were in distress through circumstances beyond their own control
he wanted to explore why people lived the way they did
the whole enquiry took nearly 17 years to complete
He divided the population into classes - an appreciation of the differences between the classes was fundamental to udnertanding the causes of poverty
Class A - at the bottom of any social hierarchy
Class B - no security of employment, low-paid workers
Class C - life was a constant struggle for survival
Class D - regular work and low incomes
Class E and Class F - could live comfortable lives
Class G and Class H - lower- and upper-middle classes
He relied on observation only
Did not take into account income when defining poverty
Some argued that there was no underpinning philospohy or principle to his investigations

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Championed democracy in the worplace, a minimum wage, family allowances and old age pensions
Conducted 3 surveys of poverty in York that suppoerted the findings of Booth in London
His aim was to find out both the numbers of people living in poverty and the nature of that poverty
First general survey of York in 1899 and published in 1901 - made house-to-house visits and relied on information from clergymen, teachers and voluntary workers
He found that 28% of the population of York were in obvious need
He worked out that the minimum wage that would be necessary for a family to live in a state of physical efficiency was 21 shillings a week
10% were living below the poverty line and in primary poverty - there was no way they could ever make ends meet
18% were living in secondary poverty - they can obtaint he basic necessities of life provided there are no extra calls on their budget
Based mainly on observation and too subjective
Poverty was only identified by that which was visible to the investigators

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aimed to advance the principles of socialism in a gradual, non-confrontational way
They set an example of good, clean and simple living for others to follow
The society held public meetings, published numeroud pamphlets and lobbied politicans on a wide range of topics from porr law reform to international alliances
Key members were Sidney and Beatrice Webb - their 'Minority Report to the Commission of the Poor Law' contributed much to the basis of the modern welfare state
pamphlets aimed at promoting social justice and were more radical in their policies than the early 20th century reforms of the Liberal government
1906 - they lobbied for the introduction of a minimum wage in order to stop British companies trying to remain competitive by lowering wages
1911 - wanted a universal health service that would enable the Britsh to be sufficiently physically fit to defend and develop their empire
1900 - active in the formation of what was to become the Labour party

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two out of every three potential recuits did not pass the basic army medical examination
fears - the security of the British Empire depended on a fit and efficient army, the successful economies of Germany and the USA seemed to imply that Britain now had an inferior workforce

The Interdepartmental Committee on Physical Deterioration, 1903-4:

to investigate claims that the health of the population was deteriorating
they concluded that the health of urban populations was being undermined by poverty, ignorance and neglect

The debate on national efficiency:

focused attention on the importance of Britain's human resources as being fundamental to national power
it encouraged policymakers to look more closely at social and economic policies that were being implemented by Britain's competitors

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