A bit of History: Britain 1890-1919 (PART 1)

At the turn of the 20th century, the cities of Britain were over-crowded and polluted as well as being infested with numerous diseases like tuberculosis and cholera due to the poor sanitation. Large numbers of people worked in factories and trade unions were set up to improve the working conditions. The turn of the century also saw advances in technology and a change in government. Britain's prosperity in wealth due to its Empire was nonetheless recognised. A bit like something out of Oliver Twist, to be honest.

Was Edwardian Britain 'A Golden Age'? 

• introduce that Britain faced many significant changes at the turn of the century, i,e, the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and the rise of King Edward VII. 
• a new system of parliament to represent public opinion

GOOD: a long-term improvement as it gave Britons their first taste of democracy.

BAD: parliament was dominated by the upper class and could not vote.

• a division in class
• new acts established in favour of working class people, e.g. the National Insurance Acts, Old Age Pensions Act, plus charities.

GOOD: long-term improvements

BAD: some were still living on subsistence levels with poor living conditions, women still faced inequalities, upper class was at the 'top of the food chain' and workhouses

• new inventions like the camera and the bike as well as new machines in factories; the upper class lived in luxury.
• conclude that whether it was a 'Golden Age' depended on class but even though it wasn't perfect, it is important to realise that working class citizens weren't neglected. 

The Philanthropists- A shining beacon of light in the dark abyss 

Charles Booth

• from 1886 to 1918, he sent people to investigate the living conditions of the poor as he refused to believe only 25% of the population in London were living in poverty- in fact, he proved it was almost a third, due to unemployment and low wages. 
• he made people realise that it wasn't one's fault to be poor.

           

Seehohm Rowntree 

• he was interested in Charles Booth's findings and wanted to compare them to York
• he found out 28% were living in poverty in York
• he divided poverty into primary and secondary

primary: a family never able to earn enough

secondary: a family just able to survive

• he created a poverty line and predicted when one might find themselves above or below it.

They all showed that the problem if poverty was at its peak despite the 'Golden Era' and the Victorian idea that poverty was as a result of the poor themselves was false. 

To be continued...