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In 1900 most children left school at the age of 12.

Britain: British Society 1890-1918 - Working Conditions And Social Reformers In The 1890s

This GCSE History quiz looks at British society 1890 to 1918, focusing on working conditions, poverty, and social reformers who campaigned for change in the 1890s.

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Fascinating Fact:

Booth argued that poverty was often caused by low wages and unemployment, not just laziness or drink. His work challenged traditional views about the poor.

In GCSE History, this topic explores how industrial cities exposed harsh working conditions and widespread poverty. You study social surveys, the work of reformers such as Booth and Rowntree, and how their findings encouraged politicians to reconsider earlier ideas about the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor, leading towards new welfare measures in the early twentieth century.

Key Terms

Working class: People who earned their living through manual or low paid jobs, often in factories, docks, workshops or domestic service.
Poverty line: A level of income below which a family could not afford basic needs such as food, rent, fuel and clothing.
Social reformer: A person who researches social problems and campaigns for government action to improve living and working conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Who was Charles Booth and what did he discover about poverty?

Charles Booth was a businessman and social investigator who mapped poverty in London. He showed that many poor families were in hardship because of low wages, insecure work and unemployment rather than personal failings.

How did social reformers influence British government policy before 1914?

Social reformers used detailed surveys and reports to prove that poverty and poor health were widespread. Their evidence helped persuade Liberal politicians to introduce reforms such as old age pensions and free school meals.

What were working and living conditions like for many people in 1890s Britain?

Many people worked long hours in dangerous factories or casual jobs and lived in overcrowded housing with poor sanitation. These conditions increased disease, insecurity and the risk of slipping into deeper poverty.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which was the largest area of female employment in 1900?

Textiles

Agriculture

Domestic Service

Retail

Many women went out to work at this time, but the choice of jobs was restrictive

2 .

What was the school leaving age in 1900?

13 years old

14 years old

15 years old

12 years old

Reformers argued that Britain's industrial competitors, like Germany, were pulling ahead on account of their better education systems and higher school leaving age

3 .

The coal-mining industry employed nearly a million miners in 1900, but health and safety issues were serious. What was the average number of miners killed in industrial accidents per year during the 1890's?

10,500

1,500

500

2,500

Miners died in explosions, as a result of poor air quality and from pit falls

4 .

Dock workers were recruited by the casual system. What did this involve?

Workers were offered weekly contracts, at the expiry of which they had to re-apply

Workers were contacted at their homes if work on the docks was available

Workers were expected to turn up at dawn in order to queue for what work was available

Workers could book a day's work up to three days in advance by attending the employer's offices

The docks, especially in London, employed large numbers of men, but there was little security of employment

5 .

What was the average life expectancy in Britain around 1900 for both sexes?

Around 50

Around 55

Around 40

Around 65

Poor housing conditions and lack of access to medical care brought the average life expectancy below that of some of Britain's competitors. Men had a life expectancy of 47 and women of 50 in 1900

6 .

Which social reformer calculated that the proportion of Londoners in poverty was around 30%? He began work in 1886 and researched the topic for the next 17 years.

Edwin Chadwick

Anthony Cadbury

Stephen Terry

Charles Booth

Years of research were needed to produce a full set of data

7 .

In which English city did Seebohm Rowntree carry out research into poverty, which yielded similar results to those of Booth?

Leeds

Birmingham

Manchester

York

Many industrial cities, especially in the North and the Midlands, had similar rates of poverty to the East End of London

8 .

Which of the following organisations provided all-round charitable care to poor people in the 1890s?

The Child Poverty Action Group

The Gough Family Trust

The Samaritans

The Salvation Army

As there was - as yet - no state provision, private charities shouldered the burden of mass poverty

9 .

In 1899 recruitment began for enlistment in the British army for service in the Boer War. What proportion of volunteers was rejected on the grounds of poor health and physique?

10%

25%

30%

40%

The army could not take recruits below a basic level of fitness

10 .

In 1891 an Education Act was passed. What was its major feature?

Free elementary schooling

Free secondary schooling

Local education authorities set up

A central department of education set up in London

There was a widespread feeling among reformers that Britain lagged behind its rivals in state educational provision