1. The Background of U.S. Welfare State

2. Ancient Civilizations Babylon: protection of widows and orphans Buddhism: love and charity Aristotle “more blessed to give than receive” Cicero “mercy on all” Greeks and Romans helped crippled, needy, orphans of war Druids and ancient Celts & Gauls cared for needy, orphans of illness and war

3. Duty of giving (tzedakah) Right, actually a duty, to receive Sense of justice Jewish law

4. Held to Jewish tradition Charity important Need is a result of misfortune; those who can help must do so, those who need have a right to receive Monasteries and hospitals sources of aid Bishop must protect the poor Christianity

6. Morality All major religions thru history have contained some sort of charity or service in their basic belief structure Social work is, by its nature, a moral vocation. Public policy is made up of collective decisions that are made. Although we are an EXTREMELY diverse nation, we are able to agree on some things. These decisions are based in histories: our religious traditions, our family traditions, our national traditions, etc.

7. Feudal European Society Everyone had an assigned place in a stable community Serfs under protection of lords Guilds in cities helped members and others Church helped sick and dependent Relief given to community members in unusual cases of accident, calamity, etc.

9. Conditions Leading to Poor Laws Breakup of feudal system Enclosure (for sheep) resulted in persons with no land to farm Black Death 1348-49 Protestant reformation and dissolution of English monasteries in 1536

10. Results of Social Upheavals Huge increases in unemployment, poverty, vagabondage, begging, thievery Rise of towns and cities Population movement & labor shortages in some areas as landless moved from place to place

11. Statute of Laborers 1349 Unemployed had to work where they lived for anyone who would hire them at the wages fixed by law No moving around for better work (or spreading the plague) No charity to be given to able bodied persons

12. Principles Underlying English Poor Laws Punitive measures alone would not solve problems Poverty was an economic not personal matter Recognized involuntary unemployment State should help those who could not help themselves Relief should be locally administered and financed

13. Major Features of 1601 Poor Law Relatives first source of help Vagrants could be punished Needy people had legal right to help by local government 3 categories of dependents: children, able-bodied, impotent Taxes raised to help the poor