Year What happened in this year that affected public health?
181 The poor law was introduced, the main part of the poor law was
5 the way that the poor were helped. The law said that each parish
had to look after its own poor. If you were unable to work then you
were given money to help you survive.
183 The law became a problem by 1830 because it cost about £7
0 million and criticism of the law was mounting. The money was
raised by taxes on middle and upper class people, causing
resentment between the social classes. One criticism was that they
complained that money went to people who were lazy and did not
want to work. Another criticism of the old Poor Law was that it
kept workers' wages low because employers knew that wages
would be supplemented by money provided by the Poor Law.
183 As a result of criticisms and expenses the poor law amendment act
4 1834 was passed, which stated that no able-bodied person was to
receive money or other help from the poor law authorities expect
in a workhouse. The conditions in these workhouses were made
very harsh to discourage people from wanting to receive help. The
act, despite the credulity and bad conditions, did ensure that the
poor were housed, clothed and fed and that children received
education. In return for the care, they had to work for several
hours of the day. This renewed law was designed to reduce the
cost of looking after the poor. Some people may have said that this
was cruel as people should not have to work so many hours just to
receive their basic rights but if someone genuinely cannot find a
job then it was a good backup system for them.
184 The first national public health act. industrialisation and the rapid
8 growth of cities led to concerns about environmental problems
such as poor housing, unclean water supplies, 'bad air', which all
impacted the health of the working population.
Edwin Chadwick was a n active campaigner on several public
health issues including poor housing and working conditions and
sanitary reform. One of Chadwick's reports contained a mss of
evidence linking environmental factors, poverty and ill health. It
recommended the establishment of a single local authority,
supported by expert medical and civil engineering advice, to
administer all sanitary matters. In 1948 the national public health
act was passed and the first board of health was established.
185 In 1854 John Snow observed that the people who contracted
181 The poor law was introduced, the main part of the poor law was
5 the way that the poor were helped. The law said that each parish
had to look after its own poor. If you were unable to work then you
were given money to help you survive.
183 The law became a problem by 1830 because it cost about £7
0 million and criticism of the law was mounting. The money was
raised by taxes on middle and upper class people, causing
resentment between the social classes. One criticism was that they
complained that money went to people who were lazy and did not
want to work. Another criticism of the old Poor Law was that it
kept workers' wages low because employers knew that wages
would be supplemented by money provided by the Poor Law.
183 As a result of criticisms and expenses the poor law amendment act
4 1834 was passed, which stated that no able-bodied person was to
receive money or other help from the poor law authorities expect
in a workhouse. The conditions in these workhouses were made
very harsh to discourage people from wanting to receive help. The
act, despite the credulity and bad conditions, did ensure that the
poor were housed, clothed and fed and that children received
education. In return for the care, they had to work for several
hours of the day. This renewed law was designed to reduce the
cost of looking after the poor. Some people may have said that this
was cruel as people should not have to work so many hours just to
receive their basic rights but if someone genuinely cannot find a
job then it was a good backup system for them.
184 The first national public health act. industrialisation and the rapid
8 growth of cities led to concerns about environmental problems
such as poor housing, unclean water supplies, 'bad air', which all
impacted the health of the working population.
Edwin Chadwick was a n active campaigner on several public
health issues including poor housing and working conditions and
sanitary reform. One of Chadwick's reports contained a mss of
evidence linking environmental factors, poverty and ill health. It
recommended the establishment of a single local authority,
supported by expert medical and civil engineering advice, to
administer all sanitary matters. In 1948 the national public health
act was passed and the first board of health was established.
185 In 1854 John Snow observed that the people who contracted
