On the Breadline

In the 19th century the well-to-do believed that poverty was part of the natural condition of mankind - that the lower classes brought it all on themselves by being lazy or drunk. The shadow of the workhouse, a foreboding institution dreaded by all working people, loomed ominously over the most destitute. In this book Alan Evans examines how attitudes have changed over the past 150 years, and describes how the struggle to eradicate poverty still continues today. This is part of a social history series aimed at 14-16 year olds, perfect for National Curriculum Key Stage 4. The books examine the changing face of Britain from the mid-19th century to the present.