Commons Quote by Ian Mortimer
““the commons put forward an exceedingly detailed and comprehensive petition regarding the labour system. It resulted in the statute which made communities responsible for providing for poor people and itinerant labour-seekers, and so established the precedent which remained the basis for the poor law until the nineteenth century.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Famine: A Study of the Irish Poor Law, 1845‑1852, 1995
A detailed petition led to a law making communities responsible for the poor, establishing a lasting poor‑law system.
In simple terms: Communities were made liable for poor relief.
Key Takeaway
Understand historical roots of social welfare.
Themes
social policy
law
community responsibility
poverty
history
Mood
analytical
historical
informative
Type
policy
historical
When to use this quote
- parliamentary debates
- local governance
- charitable work
- policy reform
Key Concepts
government
economic burden
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What were the consequences for communities?
- How did this shape modern welfare?
A Different Perspective
Early welfare laws often placed heavy burdens on localities.
