How far did the Poor Law Amendment Act mark a turning point in attitudes and state provision towards the poor?
… understand the Old Poor Law in order to justify its abolition. After having completed the Commission a vast body of evidence concerning the operation of the Poor Laws and the poor themselves was gathered and those who previously had little knowledge of the Old Poor Law became aware of the costs, inefficiency, inconsistency and allowances of the system. Therefore the Poor Law Commission of 1832 marked a significant turning point as it provided much greater knowledge of the poor and the Old Poor Law which in turn, would radically change the attitude that British society took towards the poor. With the new-found knowledge of the Old Poor Law, attitudes towards the poor themselves changed dramatically. Prior to the Poor Law Commission, British society had adopted a Paternalistic attitude. However, the state’s sense of duty to look after its poor and provide “outdoor relief” became less popular as the poor rate …
