These said social problems included an increase in city populations and the need for an educated workforce.
The Poor Law Amendment Act was introduced in 1834 that involved support for people who only entered the workhouses since there was growing concern for working conditions in the factories. Some years before the First World War unemployment was becoming an important issue in British society. Economists began to realise that unemployment ‘did exist and was a normal feature of a capitalist economy’ (Lewis, 1998: 184) and therefore a national insurance act provided unemployment benefit and sick pay. Also the 1908 Children’s Act was established that resulted in the neglect of children becoming an offence (Fulcher and Scott, 2003).
During the First World War many social policies changed which affected people’s everyday lives. Massive strains were put on British resources during the War and the state intervened in many ways. For example by citizens having to enlist in the military in 1916, control of wages and housing, and state control of industrial production and transport (Fulcher and Scott , 2003).
Although the Wars themselves were extremely important, the years in between the two wars are significant albeit because of the effects of the First World War, but nevertheless social conditions and experiences led to some change in policies. For example hunger marches and cuts of public service employment.
The Second World War could be said to be an important agent of social change due to occurrences that prompted changes in social policies regarding the welfare state. World War Two had a much force on social change than World War One did (Fulcher and Scott, 2003). For example through shared experiences such as rationing, evacuation of children from cities, conscription of all men and women and excess profits tax, things that brought people together resulting in higher expectations after the war. For Titmuss the British government during the World War Two demonstrated:
‘Direct concern for the health and well-being of the population which, by contrast with the role of the Government in the nineteen-thirties, was a little short of remarkable.’ (Titmuss cited in Jones, 2000: 104)
Government was concerned with social tension and suffering and values as values changes citizens stuck together easing gaps between social classes. Classes merged as ‘common experience of privatisation and danger’ (Jones, 2000: 104) brought people together as the public shared ‘devastating experiences’ (Jones, 2000: 104) Also ‘Wartime shortages led to many extensions in social services.’ (Jones: 106) for example meals for children and childcare, and because of these affects of the war, afterwards people expected these to continue, if not improve.
After the Second World War a welfare state was called for. People had been put under strain during the First World War, sacrificed a lot and promises by the government like providing ‘Homes for Heroes’ had not been kept. Therefore after the ‘climax of collective suffering’ (Alcock, 2004: 30) when the Second World War had finished, people were not prepared for it to happen again and there was pressure on the government for a change in policy.
Consequently there was a need for changes in legislation in Britain. The poor law had finally disappeared due to the Second World War. (Jones106) The poor law could not meet the demands of nineteenth century Britain due to industrialisation, and then in the twentieth century the effects of the World Wars and a growing economy.
When discussing changes in social policy in Britain in the twentieth century in is important to examine the effects of the Beveridge report of 1948 since this was a significant aspect in the development of social policy. Beveridge report was based round the objective of welfare reform. In which he aimed to abolish the ‘five giant evils of Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, and Idleness’ (Fulcher and Scott, 2003: 833). Some aims of the report was to achieve:
‘Full employment would ensure the funds to pay for pensions, and minimize expenditure on unemployment benefit and poverty relief.’ (Baldock et al, 2003:45)
His proposals were effective in terms of establishing the need for family allowances and maternity benefits. According to Jones:
‘The plan was an astonishing mixture of social vision and practical realism’ (Jones, 2000: 108) because Beveridge’s aims were seen as obtainable, and reflecting upon both wars, completely necessary.
An important affect of the Second World War is that it had lasting effects on people’s attitudes. ‘The 1940’s were a period of great social idealism’ (Jones, 2000: 129)
This significant time of social change came about as government reflected on the poverty and privation of the 1920s and 30s and felt something had to be done. In the post-war years there was a feeling of consensus from the British government and academics saw that social reform was needed through state intervention (Alcock, 1996). Both Beveridge and Keynes agreed that the government should intervene to make way for economic growth, employment and welfare (Alcock et al 2004). Also in terms of social attitudes people expected more from the new policies regarding equality. As a result of the Second World War Williams explains:
‘Civilisation of a new order – of social justice and egalitarianism – an order that could replace the imperial ideal in sustaining cohesion.’ (Williams, 2003:150) She claims that civilisation was of great importance in the post-war period and that the newly established rights and benefits should have been available to all.
World Wars One and Two were extremely important in influencing social change in twentieth century Britain. Though some breakthrough laws such as the Children’s Act and National Insurance Act were established before both wars, it was the change in legislation as a result of both wars that was the most significant in terms of social change. In conclusion these changes and developments in social policies for example the Beveridge Report explored here, were invaluable when analysing social change in twentieth century society.
