This paper seeks to trace the ideological trends surrounding the enactment of the New Poor Law and explore the essence of the act itself and the changes it brought about. The Swing Riots of 1830 sparked a substantial demand for reforming poor laws, resulting in the organisation of the Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws. Edwin Chadwick, a Benthamite, and Nassau Senior, a liberal political economist, played key roles in leading the compilation of the final report of the commission that served as the foundational material for the New Poor Law. Their divergent ideological orientations translated into the dual nature of the act. Utilitarian Benthamites prioritised expanding government functions, the growth of bureaucracy, and the restructuring and rationalisation of administrative structures as needed. On the other hand, advocates of classical liberalism, who championed laissez-faire, emphasized minimizing government intervention, local autonomy, and economic individualism. The specific legal provisions of the New Poor Law and the socio-economic changes following its enactment were an exquisite compromise between these two ideologies. According to the act, a central authority specialising in poor administration was established. Locally, the parish-based Old Poor Law system was dismantled, and poor law unions took the place of parishes, establishing large joint workhouses. These structural changes clearly aligned with the direction pursued by the Benthamites. At the same time, in specific matters, the New Poor Law, however, embodied elements of classical liberalism. The newly established central authority performed only a passive supervisory role, and the operation of local unions still remained under the influence of local elites. The ultimate goal of the union workhouses was not the expected rehabilitation of or care for the poor but rather a deterrent effect. In conclusion, the 19th-century New Poor Law system encapsulated elements of classical liberalism within the Benthamite framework.
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