1834 Poor Law Amendment Act

The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act reorganized how Britain helped the poor. It aimed to make aid more efficient and discourage reliance on charity by establishing centralized workhouses. These workhouses provided basic shelter and work, and conditions were designed to be less appealing than outside options to encourage people to seek assistance only as a last resort. The law also reduced public expenditure on poor relief by shifting responsibility to local parishes under a uniform national system. Overall, it sought to reform and control poor relief, focusing on workhouses as the main support while minimizing outdoor aid.