Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The Sanitary Reform Movement
- Chadwick's 1842 report sparked
off a fierce debate about cleaning
up the towns. Supporters of reform
became known as the 'clean party'.
- In 1844 the Health of Towns
Association was founded to campaign
for healthier living conditions.
- Local branches were
set up across the
country.
- Each produced evidence of
filthy streets, lack of sewage
facilities and inadequate
supplies of fresh water.
- The association called for an Act of Parliament.
- In 1847 a Public Health Bill
was finally introduced to
parliament.
- It was strongly opposed
by a group of MP's who
were nicknamed the 'Dirty
Party'.
- They believed in laissez-faire and
argues that it was not the governments
responsibility to clean up the towns.
- Cleaning up the towns would cost too much
and make the government too powerful.
- The poor were often looked down
on and it was thought that they
should try to help themselves.
- The poor did not have votes so
why should the wealthy try to help?
- Although Chadwick's report clearly
shows that there was a connection
between dirty living conditions and
disease, no one knew exactly what
caused these diseases.
- Then, in 1848, cholera struck
again and MP's voted in favour
of the bill, which became the
first public health act.
- It was not compulsory.