Poverty in the Victorian time
In the 19th century England faced many significant social challenges, rapid changes in employment, housing and social welfare brought about a huge change in peoples’ lives. A quarter of the entire population of Victorian Britain was living in poverty. 40% of the country’s wealth was owned by 5% of the population. The period of adjustment led to many workers living in extreme poverty and even dying on city streets of starvation in Victorian times. People were living longer, having larger families, infant mortality was down and immigrants escaping from the potato famine in Ireland all added up to a huge population explosion in Victorian times. People working long hours in Victorian times had to live close to their employment and available housing became scarce and highly priced.
Tenants would themselves let their rooms for 2p to 4p a day to other workers to meet the rent. Many people could not afford the rents that were being charged and so they rented out space in their room to one or two lodgers who paid between two pence and four pence a day. Families would put children to work at an early age, or even turn them out onto the streets to fend for themselves. Wealthy Victorians enjoyed a good and easy life, while Poor Victorians had a rough and hard life most poor people often end up in the workhouse or early death. Some Victorians thought that education was the answer and ragged schools were set up to provide basic education. Others argued that crime was not caused by illiteracy; it was just encouraging a more skilful set of criminals. Low wages and the scramble for jobs meant that people needed to live near to where work was available. Time taken walking to and from work would extend an already long day beyond endurance. Consequently available housing became scarce and therefore expensive, resulting in extremely overcrowded conditions.
Charities noted that it has seen the biggest...