Relief of the Poor Act 1782 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor. |
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| Citation | 22 Geo. 3. c. 83 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
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Status: Repealed
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The Relief of the Poor Act 1782, often called Gilbert's Act, was an important law in Great Britain. It was created to help people who were struggling and needed support. This act was named after Thomas Gilbert, a politician who worked hard to make it happen. The law aimed to change how poor people were helped across the country.
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Helping People in Need
Before Gilbert's Act, there were other laws about helping the poor. These laws often made poor people go into workhouses, even if they were healthy. Gilbert's Act tried to be kinder. It said that only the elderly, sick, and orphaned should go into special homes called poorhouses. Healthy people who could work were supposed to get help in their own homes instead. This was a big change from earlier laws.
What Was Poor Relief?
Poor relief was the way the government and local communities helped people who were very poor. This could include giving them money, food, or a place to live. In Great Britain, local areas called parishes were responsible for helping their poor residents. They collected money, called poor rates, from wealthier people to pay for this help.
How Gilbert's Act Changed Things
Gilbert's Act wanted to organize poor relief better. It suggested that several parishes could team up to create a larger area, like a county. These combined areas could then set up poorhouses or workhouses together. However, these places were meant only for those who truly couldn't care for themselves, like the sick, elderly, or children without parents. The law tried to make sure that people who were able to work could stay in their own homes and still get support.
Why Was This Act Needed?
In the 1780s, many people faced tough times. There was a lot of unemployment, meaning people couldn't find jobs. Wages were low, and food prices were high, making it hard for families to buy what they needed. Also, changes in farming, like enclosing land, meant fewer jobs for farm workers. Because of all these problems, more and more people needed help. This caused the poor rates (the money collected to help the poor) to go up very quickly. Wealthy landowners, who paid these rates, were not happy about the rising costs. This situation made it clear that a new approach to poor relief was needed.
A Long Fight for Change
The politician Thomas Gilbert believed strongly in helping the poor. He first tried to pass a similar law in 1765. However, his efforts were blocked by powerful people, including Charles Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, who was a leading politician at the time. Gilbert did not give up. He spent 17 years trying to get his bill approved by the parliament. Finally, he succeeded in 1782, when Rockingham was serving his second term as prime minister.
The End of Gilbert's Act
Gilbert's Act was an important step in helping the poor in Great Britain. However, laws often change over time as society changes. This act was eventually replaced by newer laws. It was officially removed from the law books by the Statute Law Revision Act 1871.
