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Jews
Large numbers of Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Russia found work in this trade in the East End of London. These new and desperate workers competed with existing workers and drove wages down even further. -
ACSU
Anglican Christian Social Union tried to prepare a 'whitelist' of employers who paid and treated their workers well and whose products Christians could buy with a clear conscience. -
Attitude
In the 1890's these attitudes began to shift, and this was largely because the country became better informed about the incredibly hard lives of the poor in both teams of their living and working conditions. -
Living Conditions
Living conditions were still the same for many working people. One reason was that Gustave Dore was best knows as an artist with an imagination who painted wierd and wonderful scenes. -
Period: to
Liberal Reforms
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School Meals
In 1906, an act was passed that allowed local authorities to provide free school meals. The new law meant that children would eat at least one meal a day. -
Medical Care
Attention was turned to medical care. Many parents were not able to afford proper treatment. Now, every local education authority had to step up a school medical service. -
Children & Young Persons Act
In 1908, the Children and Young Persons Act was inspired by a terrible social evil. In the past, insurance companies had paid out money to parents on the death of their young children, even in suspicious circumstances, with predictible results. -
Charles Booth & Seebohm Rowntree
Rowntree was a friend of leading Liberal MP, David LLoyd George, who became Chancellor of the Exchequer. His family also owned 'The Nation' and the 'Daily News'. In 1908, in his first budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George introduced a government-funded old-age pension. -
Medical Care
From 1912, this was extended to provide treatment in school clinics as well. But it was left to local authorities to make these measures work. As a result, medical care varied widely across the country. -
Meals
14 million meals were served up, most of which were free. On the other hand, only half of Britain's local authorities actually set up a meals service.