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What is Social Welfare History? in: Recollections (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/category/recollections/)

What is Social Welfare History?

by John E. Hansan, Ph. D. (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/biography/hansan-john-e-ph-d/)

October 23, 2017

The term “social welfare” does not have a precise

definition. Currently, social welfare refers to a

wide range of activities and services by

volunteers, non-profit organizations and

governmental agencies. Social welfare

encompasses help provided to persons in need;

activities and resources to enhance or promote

the well-being of individuals, families and the

larger society; and broad efforts to eliminate or

reduce the incidence of social problems.

The history of social welfare is an

interdisciplinary study of the evolution of

charitable works, organized activities related to

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Richmond Community Fund membership button The Valentine (https://thevalentine.org/) (Gift of Eloise Robinson Blackwell) Social Welfare History Image Portal (http://images.socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/items/show/211)

social reform movements and non-profit or

public social services designed to protect or

benefit individuals, families and citizens of the

larger society. Charitable efforts have often

grown out of religious beliefs

(https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/religious/theological-foundations-charity-catholic-

social-teaching-social-gospel-tikkun-olam/) — beliefs that inspired reformers to deep

compassion, firm ethical convictions, and a strong sense of justice. The reformers’ faith

backgrounds were the foundation of movements such as abolition, temperance, and the

establishment of settlement houses. And from the nation’s earliest days, religious groups and

individuals have provided significant labor and financial support for social reform and

humanitarian aid.

A major first step in creating organized social welfare programs was enactment of the

Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/poor-laws/)

by the Parliament of England. It authorized government provision for the poor residing in

local parishes and established a system of obligatory financing outside the church.

The principles and policies of English Poor Laws were carried by the settlers of the American

colonies in the early years; however, the impact of the Revolutionary War, large scale

immigration, rapid industrialization and widespread urbanization increased the incidence of

poverty and raised the costs of taxes required for poor relief. To cut the costs of poor relief,

new laws were enacted so no able-bodied person between the ages of 18 and 50 would be

given public assistance; and the young, old and disabled residents unable to care for

themselves were placed in public or religious institutions.

Very shortly, circumstances demanded more public attention to preventing poverty and

other social ills and finding ways to help those in need to become more independent and

self-sufficient. Contributing to this was the embarrassing reports published about the

conditions of institutional care and a number of significant developments such as a large

influx of immigrants, rapid industrial and urban growth, low wages, slum housing, diseases,

and child labor. These conditions developed greater public health efforts, a mental health

movement, the settlement house movement and other programs.

For example, between 1800 and 1860, six million immigrants came to the U.S., composed

mainly of very poor German and Irish Catholics. These foreigners were not welcomed into

the Protestant ethical society of America, nor did they receive help from existing private or

sectarian charities. Eventually, these new American citizens would adapt and create their

own social service and charitable organizations similar to what the Jewish and Protestant

communities provided their members.

A final step in the evolution of modern social welfare history was determined by the impact

of the Great Depression (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/great-depression/a-

synopsis-of-the-great-depression/), the New Deal

(https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/great-depression/the-new-deal/), enactment of

the Social Security Act and the domestic programs known as the Great Society. The

consequences of the Great Depression motivated President Franklin D. Roosevelt and

Congress to enact the New Deal policies designed to provide a very large number of

unemployed workers with paying jobs. These initiatives were the impetus for creating the

Civilian Conservation Corps (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/great-

depression/civilian-conservation-corps/) (C.C.C.), the National Youth Administration

(N.Y.A.), the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) and Public Works Administration

(P.W.A.). Federal work relief programs were looked upon favorably by most Americans

because they made public assistance something earned rather than granted.

On August 15, 1935, enactment of the Social Security Act

(https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/social-security/social-security-act-of-

1935/) established a national system of old-age insurance for retired workers, benefits for

victims of industrial accidents, unemployment insurance, aid for dependent mothers and

children, the blind and the physically handicapped. The Great Society was a set of domestic

programs launched during the term of President Lyndon B. Johnson

(https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/people/johnson-lyndon-b-1908-1973/) in 1964–65.

The main goal was the elimination of poverty and racial injustice. During this period, new

major spending programs were launched that addressed education

(https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-

education-act-of-1965/), medical care, urban problems, rural poverty and transportation.

Social welfare history describes the changes in helping activities and services initiated in the

United States to combat a variety of social ills of complex origins. While poverty and public

assistance play large roles in this narrative, they are not the entire story. Social welfare

history reflects the lives of people living, being educated, working and voting in the nation.

The efforts of individuals, religious groups, non-profit organizations and governments

recounted in this history have strengthened the fabric of American society and improved the

quality of life for many who live within our borders.

More

Explore historical materials related to social reform and social welfare through the Image

Portal.

How to Cite this Article (APA Format): Hansan, J.E. (2017). What is social welfare

history? Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved

from https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/recollections/social-welfare-history/

(http://images.socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/)

Resources related to this topic may be found in the Social Welfare

History Image Portal (http://images.socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/).

2 Replies to “What is Social Welfare History?”

Paul Kibirige says: September 2, 2019 at 9:25 am (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/recollections/social-welfare- history/#comment-307554)

Great information and enriching indeed, it helped me a lot. thanks

Terra says: August 28, 2019 at 8:41 pm (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/recollections/social-welfare- history/#comment-307546)

This is what they need to be teaching in school. Especially about those involved making those

movements, those that got their hands dirty and coming from prestige colleges, wealthy homes etc…

Comments for this site have been disabled. Please use our contact form for any research

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