7 Questions
What were the three classes of society in the 1700s and 1800s?
The upper class, the middle class, and the working class.
What was the purpose of the new Poor Law introduced in 1834?
To reduce the cost of looking after the poor and impose a standardized system across the country.
What were the conditions like inside the workhouse?
Conditions inside the workhouse were deliberately harsh, with families being split up, a monotonous diet, and strict rules and regulations to follow.
What were some of the unpleasant jobs that inmates in the workhouses had to do?
picking oakum or breaking stones
What were some of the scandals that hit the headlines shortly after the new Poor Law was introduced?
Andover Workhouse, where half-starved inmates were found eating the rotting flesh from bones
What were the consequences of the stricter rules introduced for those who ran the workhouses?
regular inspections and inmates were still at the mercy of unscrupulous masters and matrons
Why was the new Poor Law very unpopular?
It seemed to punish people who were poor through no fault of their own
Test your knowledge on social classes in the 1700s and 1800s with this quiz! Discover how income, housing, and social life determined one's place in society, and learn about the divisions between the upper class, middle class, and working class. Explore the pyramid-like structure of this hierarchical system and see how well you understand its dynamics.
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