Lec 17 Corn Poor W10 - Lecture notes 17 PDF

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Lecture 17 Corn Laws, Poor Laws & Factory Reform I.

THE “CORN” LAWS 1815-1846 A. The first CORN LAW, 1815 (see TABLE 1) 1. Impact of the FRENCH WARS on agriculture 2. Airm of the 1815 law B. liberal policy of Tory Governments 1822-1828 1. Sliding Scale established c. 1822 (see Table 2) 2. Sliding scale liberalized, c. 1818 (see Table 3) C. Argument for Free Trade: Richard Cobden and John Bright 1. CORN PRICES AND WAGES  demands of workmen: CHEAP BREAD  Ricardians: WAGES adjust to FALLING GRAIN PRICES  Interest of manufacturers: LOWER WAGES 2. Farmers become more EFFICIENT , creates more not less work 3. Promotes international PEACE D. Anti-Corn Law League, 1842-1846 1. the machinery of pressure politics 2. PROPOGANDA aims 3. SUCCESS: Robert Peel repeals corn law in wake of Irish famine

II.

POOR LAWS A. The Malthusian Critique 1. Independence of Workmen 2. Collusion of Farmers in Vestry meetings : freer labor market = rise in wages B. Middle Class Opinion: PRESSURE ON POOR RATES, 1815-32 C. Chadwick’s “NEW POOR LAW” 1834-36 1. creation of free labor market a la Malthus (end to settlement laws, outdoor relief etc) 2. WORKHOUSE TEST : new conditions of receipt of relief 3. “LESS ELIGIBIULITY” : condition in the workhouse 4. unworkable in practice; led to founding of the C.O.S., 1860. Cont’d O.R. in North D. Structure 1. Poor Law “Unions”: regional and centralized administration 2. Boards of Guardians with visitation powers for oversight purposes. 3. Example of Radical Utilitarian (Benthamite) principles...