section B

• overcrowding:

  -Whitechapel had a population of 30,000 and around 1000 were homeless

  -overcrowded slum areas called rookeries

  -up to 30 people in one apartment

  -1881 census showed there were only 4000 occupied houses

  -lodging houses where people had 3 eight hour sleeping shifts so beds could be shared

  -over 200 lodging houses where more than 8000 people lived

  -sewers ran through the streets

  -very poor sanitation
• attempts to improve housing:

  -1875 Artisans Dwellings Act part of slum clearance programme

  -peabody estate built as 11 blocks of flats

  -peabody estate opened in 1881 and provided 286 flats
• employment:

  -many residents worked in 'sweated' trades like tailoring, show making and making matches

  -sweat shops were small and dark with long hours (up to 20 hrs a day)

  -low wages

  -economy became depressed in 1870's as unemployment spread
• workhouses and orphanages:

  -set up in the earlier 19th century and run by poor law administrators

  -offered food and shelter to those to poor to survive independently

  -conditions made worse to prevent people from entering

  -inmates expected to do tough manual labour and wear uniforms

  -orphanages for boys set up in 1870 by Barnardo

  -100 Barnodo homes by 1905
• crime links:

  -overcrowded accommodation led to theft and domestic abuse

  -unemployment led to stealing

  -orphans could depend on petty crime and begging

  -alcoholism and prostitution led to disorder on streets and assault on women

  -discontent often boiled over as violent demonstrations