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What problems, if any, did the workhouse solve
few that were in common market employment. This can also be related to Abraham Maslows modern day theory: ‘Hierarchy of needs’ (1943) giving the poor a greater sense of self-esteem and the feeling that they contributed to society. Also, people were given food, it was inadequate in nutritional value and monotonous, but had they been home, many would have been too poor to even have this; it was better than starvation. (The official ration in HM Prisons at that time was 292 ounces of food a week; the workhouse diet was between 137 and 182 ounces a week only)
In many workhouses, there was often the provision of education, for children up to the age of 14. It was stated in the rules of the workhouse that for three of the working hours at least every day, lessons in reading writing and the principles of Christian religion must be taught. Had these children been at home, many would have had to forego education in order to work anyway. It has been reported that some workhouses even helped children to emigrate, provided apprentice work and classes in a trade skill may have been taught.
If single mothers could not support themselves and their offspring, they would have to enter the workhouse. Due to the Bastardy Clause in the 1834 Act, all illegitimate children were the responsibility of their mothers until the age of 16; the father became free of all legal implications towards the child and his/her mother. Mothers now knew they could not receive help from the father and the threat of the workhouse was a great one. This played its part somewhat in discouraging women in promiscuous relationships for fear of being cast into the workhouse with their bastard child. However, in 1844 this controversial act was overturned with another, stating that the mother could apply for maintenance from the father regardless if she was accepting poor relief.
Instead, I believe the workhouses increased the trade in child labour; textile factory owners would purchase innocent children from orphanages and force them to sign a contract stating they were now the property of the factory. Usually the age at which a child would start work was 5 years old, they were much cheaper labour, easier to house and would generally cause less of a problem so they were prime material for capitalist factory owners. The aged and infirm were also made to work in this manner as well as young single mothers who had nowhere else to go. Due to the lack of safety consideration, the factories were extremely dangerous. Because the employees were so overworked, accidents would often happen, taking off a limb as a result of tiredness. A far cry from the ideal ‘utopian society’ as written about by St Thomas Moore. (1478-1535)
The 1834 Act received much criticism from many influential members of society, including The Times. Which, prior to its action, on the 30th April 1834, criticized the bill claiming it would "disgrace the statute-book." Later, on 16th [next page]