jan 1, 1834 - Poor Law Amendment Act

Description:

- described as "the classic example of the fundamental Whig-Benthamite reforming legislation of the period"
- theoretical basis was Thomas Malthus's principle that population increased faster than resources unless checked
- Jeremy Bentham's doctrine that people did what was pleasant and would tend to claim relief rather than working

- intended to curb the cost of poor relief and address abuses of the old system, prevalent in southern agricultural counties
- enabled a new system to be brought in under which relief would only be given in workhouses, and conditions in workhouses would be such as to deter any but the truly destitute from applying for relief

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