Source Related Study on Poor Law

Source Related Study on Poor Law

1. We can learn from source A, which was written in December 1835,

that the cost was effected by the new poor law in Uckfield. This

source was written in the same year that the New Poor Law was applied

to Uckfield. In the years 1831, 1832 and 1833, £1386 was being spent

on the workhouse but £836 less was being spent when the new poor law

was introduced. Also, because the conditions were made worse, more

people wanted to get out of the workhouse and get employed, whereas

before, people stayed in to get relief. The weather also helps to show

the impact because when the weather was cold and poor, before the new

poor law, 250 labourers were unemployed and receiving relief. But

after it, there were only 28 able-bodied men out of employment,

meaning the new poor law has worked and made people find employment.

This source is reliable because the statistics could easily be checked

up on and proven.

2. In Source B, which was written in 1842, tells us that families who

are unable to work because of the weather are asking for relief. The

new poor law said that outdoor relief wasn't allowed. But in Source A,

which was written in 1835, tells us that even when the snow had

stopped most of the operation of agriculture, there were only 28

people receiving relief in the workhouse.

So in source B which was written after the new poor law, it is saying

that several families are asking for relief which is contradicting

what is being said in source A. Therefore I think source B does

contradict source A fully.

3. One of the reasons people objected to the new poor law is that in

source C, written in 1992, it tells us that a lot of people

'complained about the policy of sending paupers to another parish for

relief.' In source D, written in 1842, married paupers were unable to

see their wives, which is going to make people object to the new poor