What was the Poor Law Ammendment Act In The Time Of Oliver Twist like ? ?
While called an Amendment Act it actually completely replaced earlier legislation based on England’s Poor Law of 1601. The 1834 Act is also known as the New Poor Law. It replaced an old system under which workhouse inmates were free to enter and leave as they liked and would receive free food and accommodation. The concern was that this was too liberal a regime and that it lead to many people who could easily work taking it easy in the workhouse. This lead not only to an excessive charge on charitable funds but was a dilution of the work ethic. To counter this the principle of less eligibility was developed. Under this principle, workhouse life was deliberately made as harsh and degrading as possible so that only the truly destitute would apply. Attempts were also made to provide moral guidance, training and education to the poor but it would be fair to say that the principle of less eligibility combined with the ever present desire to save money scuppered any real chance of success in
