Access the main problems facing British Government Between 1800 - 1905

 Since 1776 the accepted theory was that the, “economy would function more efficiently if people were free to pursue their own self-interest”. This was seen to help individuals successfully earn money and so the equal chance of everyone doing well. This included the poorest of the poor. (Those who didn’t try were said to have got what they deserved). However not everyone seemed to believe this idea. Many knew that even the poor who worked just as hard as any other man richer than himself would not make enough money to live comfortably and out of poverty. They felt it necessary that for these unfortunate people state intervention was required. With this proposition the State quickly were bombarded with evidence against Individualism.

 When the Great Depression struck the number of unemployed was incredible. With competing countries such as Germany and the USA, those employed were made to work harder and so faced even worse conditions and hardships then they ever did before. Those who could not find jobs were left with the bitter thought that self-help theory was a fraud. The high number of unemployed clearly needed, support from the state. This was a considerable strain on the government as they tried to find ways of funding the necessary means of helping these people.

 In the last quarter of the nineteenth century poverty received more publicity than ever before. Such series of reports went to explode the myth that poverty was a self-inflicted wound. Such reports from the recruiting of the Boer War (1899-1902) and such individuals as Booth and Row tree.

 Finally the fear of socialism became a very important factor that caused problems for the Government. To fund the Government did not want to upset the Working and Higher classes, then again ignoring the truth of the poor would’ve caused a great deal of conflict.