Speenhamland system

Speenhamland system

▪ British relief system
      practice of economic relief for the poor that was adopted over much of England following a decision by local magistrates at the Pelican Inn, Speenhamland, near Newbury, Berkshire, on May 6, 1795. Instead of fixing minimum wages for poor labourers, the practice was to raise workingmen's income to an agreed level, the money to come out of the parish rates. This allowance was designated as the price of 3 gallon loaves a week for each man (a gallon loaf was 8 1/2 pounds [about 4 kilograms]) plus the cost of 1 1/2 loaves each for a wife and every child. The money was to cover all expenses. This allowance system lasted until the enactment of the Poor Law Amendment (1834).

      Contemporary commentators and modern historians alike have condemned the system; the former claim it encouraged the poor in idleness, while the latter stress the opportunity it gave unscrupulous employers and landlords to reduce wages and raise rents respectively, knowing their depredations would be redressed from the public pocket.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Speenhamland system — The Speenhamland system was a form of outdoor relief intended to mitigate rural poverty in England during the early 19th century. Origins The Speenhamland system was an amendment to the old Poor Law or Elizabethan Poor Law, created as an indirect …   Wikipedia

  • speenhamland system — (ˈ)spēn|hamlənd noun Usage: usually capitalized 1st S Etymology: from Speenhamland, England, where it was first used : a system of supplementing rural wage payments from local taxes first used in England in the latter part of the 18th century …   Useful english dictionary

  • Speenhamland, Berkshire — Speenhamland is a district of Newbury, Berkshire, which gave rise to the Speenhamland system of poor relief in the early 19th century. It lies to the north of the River Kennet, between the centre of Newbury and the village of Speen to the north… …   Wikipedia

  • Speenhamland-Gesetzgebung — Die Speenhamland Gesetzgebung bezeichnet 1795 in mehreren englischen Countys nach einem gemeinsamen Vorbild beschlossene Sozialgesetze. Mit diesen Gesetzen sollte das Problem der Armut der Landbevölkerung institutionell gelöst werden. Einen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Speenhamland-Gesetz — Dieser Artikel oder Abschnitt bedarf einer Überarbeitung. Näheres ist auf der Diskussionsseite angegeben. Hilf mit, ihn zu verbessern, und entferne anschließend diese Markierung. Die Speenhamland Gesetzgebung bezeichnet 1795 in mehreren… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Decline and abolition of the poor law system — The Decline and abolition of the Poor law system in England and Wales can be traced to around 1870 when the share of population on poor relief began to fall into sharp decline which continued until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.[1]… …   Wikipedia

  • Classifications of poor used in the Poor Law system — classified people into categories for those considered deserving of poor relief and those who were not considered deserving of poor relief. The impotent poor could not look after themselves or go to work. They included the ill, the infirm, the… …   Wikipedia

  • Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601 — Old Poor Law redirects here. For the Old Poor Law which existed in Scotland between 1574 1845, see Old Scottish Poor Law. The Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601, popularly known as the Elizabethan Poor Law , 43rd Elizabeth [1] or the Old Poor… …   Wikipedia

  • English Poor Laws — Poor Law redirects here. For the Poor Law systems of Scotland and Ireland, see Scottish Poor Laws and Irish Poor Laws. Although many deterrent workhouses developed in the period after the New Poor Law, some had already been built under the… …   Wikipedia

  • Elizabethan Poor Law (1601) — The Poor Law Act 1601 was also known as the Elizabethan Poor Law, 43rd Elizabeth [So called because the law was passed in the 43rd year of Elizabeth s reign] Old Poor Law after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. At the time of… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”