Poor Relief Act 1795 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Citation | 36 Geo. 3. c. 10 |
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The Poor Relief Act 1795 was an important Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. This law aimed to help people who were struggling financially. It changed how money was collected and given out to the poor in certain areas.
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What Was the Poor Relief Act of 1795?
This law, also known as 36 Geo. 3. c. 10, was created in 1795. Its main goal was to update the system for helping people who were poor. It allowed local officials to collect more money to support those in need.
Helping Those in Need in Old Britain
In the 1700s, there was a system called the "Poor Law." This system was designed to provide help for people who could not support themselves. Local areas, called parishes, would collect money from residents. This money was then used to help the poor in their community.
Why Did the Old System Need Fixing?
Before 1795, the amount of money collected for the poor was fixed. However, the price of food, especially grain like wheat, started to rise a lot. This meant that the money collected was no longer enough. People were still very poor, and the old system could not help them properly.
How the 1795 Act Changed Things
The Poor Relief Act of 1795 made an important change. It allowed local "guardians" (officials in charge of poor relief) to collect more money. They could adjust the amount based on the price of wheat. This price was often checked at a place called Mark Lane in London, which was a major grain market.
The law said that the amount collected could be up to double what was collected before. This helped ensure that there was enough money to support the poor. It was a way to make sure that the help kept up with the rising cost of living.
