Tenessee Williams essays

Tenessee Williams essays Thomas Lanier Williams was born on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. He lived a traditional home and had two other siblings. He had one sister named Rose and a brother named Brian. His father was a shoemaker and his mom was a housewife who stayed home and cooked and cleaned. His father and mother were repeatedly in fights about their wealth. His father was a raging alcoholic and often fell asleep with his liquor bottle in his hand. As he grew up he moved from state to state looking for a place to settle down. When he moved to New Orleans he changed his name to Tennessee because Tennessee is the state that where his father was born. In the 1950's many things were happening that made life hard. Some of these problems were things that all Americans were facing such as WWII and the end of the depression. These two events are huge factors because when the soldiers came back from the war they were looking for the money that they were promised, because of the depression the government did not have them money that they had to give out. When this happened they taxed the families of America just like the Williams family. With these taxes going on Tennessee's parents got in many fights. His parents like all Americans only made about 12,000 dollars a year. As he grew up he was into writing. Tennessee's had many great works. The ones that were widely known though out the county were "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "A Street car Named Desire" and, "The Glass Menagerie". In the words of (It was one of Williams best play know to date, If not it was by for his most powerful play.) William Becker. This play has to deal with his own life more then another one of his play because he based it on his own family and his extremely harsh childhood. Another part of his life also comes out in all of his plays and especially this one such as him being a homosexual, and an alcoholic. This play is a great example of this because Magic or his sister...

Have you ever bullied or been bullied Essay Example

Have you ever bullied or been bullied Essay Example Have you ever bullied or been bullied Essay Have you ever bullied or been bullied Essay Have you ever bullied or been bullied BY JbaileY731 Have you ever bullied or been bullied? If you have bullied or been bullied then you should know how bullying feels like. Bullying is very negative and creates major problems for our society. Nothing good comes out of bullying. It could very well change or ruin a persons life. In fact, it does ruin many peoples lives. Kids can be mentally scarred if they are teased often. Even worse, they could be killed or fatally injured if the bullying gets extreme. There are many causes for bullying which must be taken care of before bullying can be stopped. T. V. iolence, families in poverty, and mis-teachings are Just several of the many serious causes for bullying. Bullying must be stopped or prevented no matter how long it will take, it is a deeply concerning matter. Bullying does not always have to be childish play. it can be extremely violent. People may be bruised, injured, or even killed. Kids under bad influence may turn very violent. Parents, relatives, friends, T. V. , music and pictures may all i When we think of bullying, images of playground confrontations spring to mind. Such as kids being pushed around at recess, having their hair pulled in the hallway, or eased on the school bus. It is often treated as Just kids being kids, and with minor and short-term consequences. However, this is not Just an issue of childhood. Research shows that the effects of bullying can persist into adulthood, affecting both the victim and the bully for the rest of their lives. The very act of bullying is a dangerous one for both parties. Bullying produces strong feelings of fear, shame, embarrassment and guilt in the victim. : Bullies use threats to keep their victims quiet, in exactly the same way that abusers (including child sex abusers) silence their targets. The short-term effects of bullying can be profound. Research has shown that children who are bullied at school are likely to exhibit the following symptoms: Unhappy in school More withdrawn Less considerate of peoples feelings More adjustment problems Increased anxiety Increased depression Many of these effects of bullying can be short term, but there are also long-term consequences. In particular, if the bullying continues for a prolonged period of time. Children who are routinely bullied are: At greater risk of depression and lower self- esteem later in life Likely to suffer from loss of confidence More likely to report migraine headaches Prone to miss more school because of excused and unexcused absences Likely to experience increased problems with family life and relationships At higher risk for More likely to have problems with alcohol and drug use More likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors Many of the symptoms are the same as those seen in people suffering from post- traumatic stress disorders. A recent report by the UK Charity Kidscape reported that people who were bullied as children carried the problems with them into later life. Some of the issues included suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, and difficulty relating to people and family. This is corroborated by researchers from the Yale School of Medicine, who found a strong connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide in children. This is not Just a problem for boys. Girls are Just as likely to bully, using social exclusion as a weapon of choice. The long-term effects of this can be devastating experts believe that this type of social bullying is directly responsible for creating the low self-esteem that leads women towards a path of abusive relationships, unwanted regnancies, drug and alcohol addiction and a range of poor self-image issues such as anorexia and bulimia. The effects of bullying arent Just limited to the victims however recently, researchers have found that six out of ten kids identified as bullies in middle school are convicted of a crime by the time they reach age 24. The effects of bullying behavior on the perpetrators might even be seen in areas that may at first glance seem unrelated children whose teachers reported severe persistent behavior problems (including bullying) at 7, 11 and 16 had more than double the risk f Chronic Widespread Pain in adulthood compared with children without behavior problems. Worryingly for educators, there is a new type of bullying that has emerged in the past decade cyber bullying. It is estimated that around 10 percent of all adolescents in grades 7-9 are victims of internet bullying. What is so damaging about this type of bullying is that the victim is never left alone the abuse continues during evenings and weekends. Victims can be harassed continuously via SMS and websites, with information spreading quickly. Once posted, the insults can be difficult to emove, and the perpetrator is often difficult to identify. Psychologists believe that understanding how bullying affects people in adulthood is vital when we turn eighteen and leave school we dont leave all these experiences behind us. Rather, we carry them with us, affecting almost every area of our lives. What Are The Effects of Bullying? Being the victim of bullying can have a tremendous negative impact. Numerous studies on the effects of bullying have found that victims of bullying may be more: withdrawn depressed anxious insecure shy lonely isolated voidant of school, places, or activities Is Being Bullied a Traumatic Event? Given the negative effects of bullying, some have questioned whether bullying could be considered a traumatic event that could lead to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the 4th version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a traumatic event that can lead to PTSD must meet the following criteria: The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event where there was the threat of or actual death or serious injury. The event may lso have involved a threat to the persons physical well-being or the physical well- being of another person. The person responded to the event with strong feelings of fear, helplessness or horror. So, in severe cases of bullying, it is very possible that these conditions could be met, setting the stage for the development of PTSD symptoms. However, other cases of bullying, although definitely stressful, may not be considered traumatic. Where To Go For Help When it comes to bullying, adults are often unaware of bullying problems with their children. One study found that almost three quarters of teachers believe that they hould almost always intervene when it comes to bullying. However, only one quarter of their students agreed with this. Therefore, when it comes to bullying it is very important to know what to look for and how to intervene. Fortunately, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed a website for both children and adults on bullying called Stop Bullying Now!. This website is an excellent resource that provides tips on how to identify, cope with, and stop bullying. The About. com Guide to Pediatrics also provides information on bullying.

Hazardous waste management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hazardous waste management - Essay Example In 2002 a site in Yucca monutain range in the state of Nevada wasproposed as the central repository site for the disposal/burial of the nuclear waste produced throughout the country. This site was proposed as the best site for the purpose due to its geographical location as this muntain range is located far away from the cities. However some environmentalists still raised issues against the depositing of nuclear waste in this area and then in the year 2010 this bill was terminated by the Obama administration. The reasons proposed by the administration were that of environmental issues but they are considered to be more of beurocratic reasons as the proposal was highly rejected by the Nevada state and the senator from nevada. The termination of this site as a repository left the state with no other options for the disposal of nuclear waste and the government was forced to dispose off the nuclear waste on or near the site of nuclear plants, some of which are located close to cities and propose a high risk of radioactivity as well as any accident in those plants could cause heavy damage to the people living near those areas. Brumfiel, G. (n.d.). Nuclear waste storage: Why did Yucca Mountain fail, and what next? - Slate Magazine.  Politics, Business, Technology, and the Arts - Slate Magazine. Retrieved March 5, 2013, from

The Problem of Increasing Litigation Costs Case Study

The Problem of Increasing Litigation Costs - Case Study Example The case of Weissensteiner was important in that it raised the issue of circumstantial evidence pointing to the accused’s guilt, however, the Court held that the failure of the accused to give evidence did not itself construe an implication of guilt. The Court stated clearly that in an accusatorial trial, the failure of an accused to give evidence â€Å"cannot fill any gaps in the prosecution case† (Weissensteiner @50) and it cannot be used as a factor in determining whether the prosecution has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore the failure of a witness to give evidence was not to be associated with inferences of guilt.             Section 20(2) of the Evidence Act states clearly that the judge or other parties may comment on the failure of the accused to provide an explanation for evidence that exists against him. Therefore, the position taken by the judges in the RPS case was a valid one. Firstly, in their judgment, the silence of the accused was not excused in the manner of Weissensteiner. The prosecution, in this case, failed to call a witness that it should have and Justices questioned: â€Å"whether in the circumstances, the jury should entertain a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the accused†(RPS@633). Secondly, in this case, the Court applied a similar reasoning as it did in the case of Azzopardi v The Queen, where it stated that the position the Court adopted in Weissensteiner would be justified only if â€Å"there is a basis for concluding that there additional facts which would explain or contradict the inference which the prosecution seeks to have the jury draw.†   Thirdly,   Justice McHugh also commented on the history of the right to silence and adopted the position that the right to silence allowed to the accused was no more than an â€Å"invention of lawyers† to protect their clients from incriminating themselves. (Azzopardi @101). The position taken in the majority opinion of Judges in the RPS case was that the Jury could reasonably draw an adverse inference if the accused failed to give evidence since his silence would amount to a tacit admission of guilt.   

Topic of choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Topic of choice - Essay Example It is evident and clear that owing to the differences between an adult and a child, children who murder should not be tried as adults. The judicial system of the adults and the children should be separate and children should be tried in juvenile courts as they do not have the capability of understanding and reaching to conclusion with regard to court consultations. The case of Bobby Hines who was a student in middle school clearly reflects as an example. Bobby Hines was with his friends and one of his friends murdered a person during an argument. Hines was punished and the charge against him was that of â€Å"felony murder.† Hines was imprisoned for lifetime and during his trial he was provided with a deal to change his charge to â€Å"second degree murder† which could have resulted in reduced prison term. Hines was very young and he did not understand the working of the adult judicial system and hence he is still in prison for the last 22 years. Deborah Labelle, who holds the post of the director of The Juvenile Life without Parole Initiative, uses this case to explain that owing to the inability of the children to recognize and understand the rules of the judicial system of the adults, they eventually end up being sentenced to tougher prison terms. Thus, children who should murder should be dealt with in a different manner than their adult counterparts (Lee, 2012). The United States is still marked to be one country across the globe that has very strict laws with regard to the trial of children who are guilty of murder. They can be sentenced to life imprisonment without the right of release. A research conducted on a national level in a Sentencing Project which is mainly functioning in Washington D.C. highlighted the drawbacks of trying children in the adult courts. The report indicated that children who were tried in adult courts faced racial discrimination accompanied with hindrances in corrective and restorative

Future Concerns - Gattaca and Fahrenheit 451 Essay Example for Free

Future Concerns Gattaca and Fahrenheit 451 Essay Popular fictions texts expressing views of the future educate audiences about current issues and the dystopias that develop from them. Texts such as the film ‘Gattaca’, directed by Andrew Niccol and novel ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury explore futuristic societies and the implications that become of their innovation. Although entertaining, texts such as these are didactic and must be taken seriously, as they communicate messages to audiences regarding prevalent concerns and possible futures based on society’s choices. Gattaca’ (1995) directed by Andrew Niccol, follows the story of the underdog Vincent, who is challenged by genetic discrimination against ‘in? valids’ like himself. Through an elaborate identity switch and the help of ‘genetically advantaged’ Jerome, Vincent prevails to achieve his dreams and find his place at Gattaca Space Station. Niccol utilises conventions of film to convey messages to the audience by highlighting issues relevant to the context of production. Gattaca’ incorporates many themes which highlight the corruption and inequality in this strange, new world. Niccol explores concepts such as elitism, perfection, inequity and modernism. This film opens with two contrasting epigraphs, which entices viewers’ interest into moral themes in ‘Gattaca’. The first quote reads: â€Å"Consider God’s handiwork; Who can straighten what He hath made crooked? † Ecclesiastes 7. 13. An interpretation of this quote is that life is intended to be left alone to take its course, which is contradictory to many ideas in ‘Gattaca’. The quote following reads: â€Å"I not only think that we will tamper with Mother Nature, I think Mother wants us to. † Willard Gaylin. This presents audiences with differing opinions to contemplate as they consider what scientific advancements their own future holds, watching Vincent in his. The opening scene is an extreme close up shot of Vincent’s fingernails, hair follicles and loose skin, against a blue cubicle. The extreme close up shot suggests importance as the camera focuses in on the subject matter, emphasising the significance of Vincent’s DNA. Sterility and cleanliness is suggested by the use of cold, deep blue hues. The use of blue is constant throughout the film, as is the significance in detail. These concepts tie to other scenes, such as ‘The Eyelash’, where Vincent’s own ‘invalid’ eyelash is discovered during a murder investigation. This concept highlights the precision of technology in the future, and that life with such structure becomes complicated. Audiences can learn lessons from examples such as these scenes s they can relate the situations Vincent is put in with possible futures based on the direction society is heading in present times. Another effective technique demonstrated by Niccol is the first person narration by the central character, Vincent. This is important for the development in the movie, as Vincent is the protagonist we are encouraged to empathise with. Therefore, the use of bias narration and perspective is effective in supporting the ideas presented in the film. Following the opening scene is ‘The Not Too Distant Future’, which cuts to a low angle shot looking up to the bold, symmetrical lines of the building. In this shot, Gattaca is shaded in black and grey tones, also indicating the power and formality of the institution. As the camera tilts down, the strong lines and colouring remain constant as view of the staff are also brought into the frame. Directors have dressed actors in blue business suits, again, enforcing the concept of formality, conformity and sterility. The uniformed staff are very bland and indistinguishable from one another in their uniformed clothing. Silence is broken by the rising volume of diagetic sound effects, such as the beeping sound of accepted ‘valids’ through the turnstile, as well as an anonymous greeting by a placid female voice: â€Å"Welcome to Gattaca†. These techniques develop the idea that society has become lifeless and ‘black and white’, as Gattaca presents characters as clinical and robotic products of genetic modification, teaching audiences about social issues that relate to futures.

The Origins Of The Welfare State

The Origins Of The Welfare State The term modern Welfare State comes from the Beveridge report of 1941. The words represent that Government provides a minimum level of taxed welfare support for citizens in need. Beveridge and his five giants showed a greater need for an active role by Government in the welfare of its citizens through better housing, education, benefits for the unemployed and an accessible National Health Service. The foundations of this started mainly with the Liberal Reforms of 1906 1914 but this can even go back to the 1601 poor law. The 1601 poor law had control over the poor with very little interference from Government, as it was locally administered by the parish overseers (P. Spicker 2008) but still required the Church to assist. In 1834 the poor law was changed by Earl Grey (Spartacus Schoolnet); workhouses were introduced which meant no able bodied person would receive money or help from the poor law authorities (M. Bloy 2002). Other changes happened to this law; children would get schooling and be clothed and fed while in the workhouse. However, some people spoke out against the workhouses and called them prisons for the poor. Seebohm Rowntree did a study in 1901 and found a number of people living in poverty even though they were working, their wages were below the poverty line and they were struggling to survive (R. Ensor 1980). This led to the Liberal Reforms of 1906-1914, with the introduction of free school meals in 1906 and medical inspections in 1907 paid for by the State, but the treatment was largely unaffordable and relied on the charity of others. This was the start of new ideas in the Social Service State and Liberals made sweeping changes in their reforms; the elderly received an old age pension in 1908 and the sick would be paid whilst being unable to work through the National insurance Act of 1911. Unemployed people did not have to wander the country looking for work with the new labour exchanges set up in 1909, which meant employers could advertise jobs in one place, much like the Job Centres of today. Even with all the laws to help the poor, it still required a lot of help from other sectors (pluralism); the Church still played a major role in providing housing, food and clothing; charities still had to ask the rich to help. Even the poor had to help by sharing what little they had. Families united and pulled together to survive and this built a community spirit. The State didnt want the poor to rely on State help alone. This is the foundation of the modern Welfare State today. The NHS (established in 1948) still relies on outside resources, with charities like St Johns Ambulance helping provide front line assistance and organisations such as BUPA taking some of the pressure off the service from those who can pay. Housing for the poor is now mostly run through charitable associations in most areas and the Welfare State relies on voluntary organisations like Salvation Army and Barnardos to help with problems in society. This partnership with state, church, private business, voluntary organisations and charities has created a safety net for the poor in which children and adults have protection from poverty, abuse, hunger; giving them security and care in times of desperation. Task 2: Explain the contents and evaluate the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law. (540 words not including titles) The 1601 Poor Law had controlled the actions of the poor; making it very difficult for the poor to travel the country begging for food and shelter and helping stop associated anti-social behaviour. The poor could only get aid from charities and the local tax payers from their place of birth. This was costing more every year and the middle and upper classes that were paying through taxes, started to think they were paying for the lazy and those who would not help themselves to find work and better their lives. Charles Grey (2nd Earl Grey) was prime minister at this time and had been making sweeping reforms throughout Government; he set up a poor law commission to examine the poor law. The commission felt that to relieve poverty, the poor had to help themselves. As a result of this the 1834 poor law amendment act was passed. This new act made it so the poor were only able to receive any aid if they entered a poor house. All the parishes of the previous 1601 law now had to group together and set up poor law unions. This gave greater control over the poor and even on the cost to the Government and local tax payers; this was called indoor relief as opposed to outdoor relief. Outdoor relief tried to get the poor to look for work themselves and made those who were lazy and avoided work less eligible for help, with the hope that the fear of the poor house would be a deterrent and make them find work. These places were unforgiving; you would have to work hard to receive any state or charity help. The masters and matrons were harsh and there to be a visible deterrent; conditions hit the papers of half starved inmates even eating the rotting flesh from bones at the Andover workhouse (September 1845; The Times). Parliament had to do something and created a select committee in 1846 and with the result of its findin gs the poor law commission was abolished in 1847. The poor law act of 1834 was intended to be the solution to pauperism and believed the moral character of the working man would be his own saviour. This was shown not to be the case. The Government had to make improvements to this law after anti-poor law propaganda in its early years, to social unrest and riots in Bradford in 1837 where troops had to control the Chartism threat (the peoples charter). These revolts made way for changes to improved conditions for the working populations, such that the threat of the workhouse could be avoided through better sanitisation and clean water to counter sickness. Medical Officers were also introduced in 1871 to control public health issues. The state would provide schooling for 5-10 year olds from 1870 1880 to educate the poor to better themselves and Hospitals were slowly being made available for the most needy, to aid those in the population on low wages. The amendment of 1834 did go some way to improving the poors conditions, but it would not be until a number of years later that the Government chose not to control the poor by harsh measures but by working in partnership with them. Task 3: Outline some of the Liberal Reforms and evaluate their contribution to welfare policy (791 words not including titles) In Manchester 1899, out of 12,000 men offering to fight in the South African war, 8,000 were rejected on grounds such as malnutrition and illness. This led Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree to undertake studies of the state of poverty in Britain between 1901 and 1902. Rowntree found that the number of people in York found to be in primary poverty, was 15.45 percent of the wage earning class. Investigations by AL Rowley and AR Burnet found that working class areas throughout England showed much the same (R. Esnor England). This came from low paid jobs in society which made them have a very low standard of living. The Liberals took power in 1906 under Sir Henry Bannerman with a huge majority. They had not promised to bring poor law reforms, but were influenced by Rowntree and Booths reports which showed the laissez faire solution was not working in Britain. In 1906 the Liberals started to reform the poor law starting with the (1906) Education Act; this meant free school meals for the poorest families, making sure a child would receive one healthy meal a day. This was a great success as it encouraged parents to make sure their child went to school and keep them off the streets, but some local councils did not follow it up as it meant they would have to increase local taxes. Some councils did not want to move forward with new reforms for the poorest in society (National Archives). Liberals took this act further with the introduction of compulsory school medical inspections in 1907; these ensured children would be healthy but the downfall meant if the child needed treatment, they would still have to pay. The poorest of families would not have been able to afford this and would have had to go to charities for help. This changed in 1912 with the introduction of School Clinics; by this time the Government had introduced the new Childrens Act of 1909 which protected children from persecution / neglect from the family or their environment. The Liberals also helped the old with the introduction of a Pension Act in 1908 for those aged 70; they would receive 5 shillings a week and if married, 7 shillings 6d. This took away the affects of the workhouse for the elderly and protected them to a certain extent from working themselves to an early death, whilst taking away the pressure placed on poor families to look after an elderly family member. This would be funded by general taxation and had many critics. Many believed that the elderly had wasted money throughout their youth (National Archives) and now it would be down to the middle to wealthy classes to pay for their old age. To qualify people had to live in Britain for twenty years. Criminals and those felt to be idle did not receive any pension. They would still have to find work or enter the workhouse. This seemed fair as if you contributed to taxes you would be entitled to the pension; if not then you would be looking for the charity of others or the workhouse. Under Lloyd George the National Insurance Act of 1911 (Part 1 Health) would protect the sick if they became ill whilst working and help them and their family avoid ending up in the workhouse or in poverty. The worker would contribute 4d into the scheme while the employer would add another 3d, while Government added another 2d; this would give the worker 9d for only paying 4d. If the worker became ill, he would receive 10 shillings per week for up to 26 weeks and after that if he still was injured, 5 shillings disability pension. This scheme relied on the worker to protect himself from possible sickness / injury and built a structured work ethic for the working classes with a safety net if required; this is what Lloyd George hoped. The National Insurance Act of 1912 then came in to protect those who worked in jobs that lasted for short periods, like ship builders and construction workers. They paid into the scheme and could claim 7 shillings for 15 weeks whilst out of work until they either went back to their previous job or found another job. This was made easier with the set up of the Labour Exchanges in 1909, where employers could advertise positions of work in a designated place to save time for the jobseeker travelling from area to area. By 1910 eighty three exchanges had been set up. This system can still be seen today with the local Job Centres helping skilled and unskilled workers find employment to keep the costs of welfare to a minimum and ensure no-one had the option to be idle. Task 4: Describe and discuss Beveridges 5 giant evils and outline the key points of the Beveridge report and evaluate their significance. (1,274 words not including titles) William Henry Beveridge (1st Baron Beveridge 1879 1963) studied law in Oxford and became interested in the social service state while writing for the Morning Post Newspaper. Under a Liberal Government of 1906 1914 he became a prominent member of Lloyd Georges pensions and National Insurance scheme and was also involved in setting up labour exchanges throughout the country. After his book called Unemployment (1909), he altered expert opinion from one where low wages were seen as the cause of poverty, to one where people only being casually employed and not working all the time, meant they were unable to get themselves out of poverty. At the time of the Second World War, Beveridge was asked by the coalition Government to commission a report of how to rebuild after the war. Beveridge published his findings in 1942, but the words welfare state actually entered print in the early part of the war in 1941. In December 1942, the BBC broadcast to Nazi occupied Europe that Britain is grappling with its social problems through Beveridges proposals, even through war. This could have been seen as propaganda. As part of his report, Beveridge identified 5 giant evils that caused poverty. They were: Want. He identified that people lacked the security of an income, which in turn left them short of funds to live off. These were usually unemployed, sick, old or widowed and possibly unable to work through no fault of their own. To counter this problem, Beveridge created a means tested benefit system that would give the poorest people a safety net in times of crisis. This would be paid for by a compulsory flat rate National Insurance Scheme paid by the employee and employer. It would use the Rowntree calculations of basic needs to tackle poverty (Thane 1982). Beveridge also suggested that social insurance schemes like child benefit became universal and not means tested as this would help with the extra costs of having children preventing them becoming a burden to the family. Disease. Beveridge felt that better provision of non means tested health care by state funding should be comprehensive and available to everyone. This would improve the nations health and make people more able to get back into work and less dependent on the welfare system. Ignorance. This would be dealt with by a universal and compulsory state education system, particularly through provision of state funding with everyone able to have secondary education. This would improve the chances of the country, giving a better future for all. Squalor. Better housing and social environment improvements would provide subsistence and help the country become united for future prosperity, with the development of affordable homes as council houses for rent. This would also make jobs for the nation before and after the war through a building program. Idleness. Beveridge did not want what happened in the 1930s (mass unemployment) to be repeated again. This increased poverty and made some people become idle and brought back the problems of anti-social behaviour. He wanted more involvement from Government to create jobs and building programs to get the country to work, which would be self generating for prosperity. Beveridges report covered these 5 giant evils and aimed to address them. He proposed that the welfare state should focus on key points of; being comprehensive, universal for all, non means tested, compulsory for everyone, and funded through insurance type payments. The key points of his report guided changes in Government legislation in the following years, with huge significance for the country. Under Churchill, the Government moved on the Beveridge report with the undertaking of the Town and Country Planning Act (1943). The country needed to be rebuilt and this would go some way towards removing Squalor, but it wasnt until 1946 until most of Beveridges ideas of tackling this problem were undertaken by a Labour Government under Clement Attlee. Between 1946 and 1949, Housing Acts gave financial support to local authorities for rebuilding after the war. Between 1945 and 1951 1.25 million new council affordable homes were constructed. A Rent Control Act also came in in 1946 which would stop landlords increasing rents or providing shoddy housing; it also gave tenants the right to inform on unscrupulous landlords. Under this Act the councils could build new towns in the country and in 1949 Countryside Act, people had the right to roam, which in turn kept them fit and healthy. At much the same time, the Education Act (1944) was passed. This Act raised the school leaving age to 15 which later increased to 16. This could not be put into place as the Conservative Government had no way of funding it. When Labour came into power in 1947 the Act was passed and paid for by the state. This was a time of change and Labour started a nationalisation program to bring the country more in line with socialist ideas, being able to bring profits by other means than taxing heavily and creating a fairer society. In 1948 they introduced the Employment and Training Act which would tackle two of Beveridges problems, Idleness and Ignorance, making people go into work schemes, creating a skilled workforce for a better future. This was aimed at areas such as South Wales and the North East where there was high unemployment. This would make people feel part of the new ideas and make it hard for them to expect handouts. In 1945 the family allowance came into effect. This meant all those who had children would receive help from the state; this would be a universal benefit which would not be means tested which would make everyone feel it was comprehensive for all. In 1946 the National Insurance Act tackled the problems of the poor and Beveridges evil of Want. If someone became unemployed they would receive benefits to provide a minimum standard of living; this was also available to pregnant women and helped to fund old aged pensions. This also covered the sick and provided a comprehensive policy to solve the social problems from the cradle to the grave. To protect people from injuries at work, another act came into force, the Industrial Injuries Act (1946) which made employers take more care of the workers so they didnt claim compensation. In 1948 the National Assistance Act protected the poorest in society and this was the final nail that abolished the poor law. To fund this, everyone working and employers would pay into the scheme; this was compulsory and universal for all. The jewel in the crown for a more fair society in tackling Disease was the 1946 National Health Service. This provided free comprehensive health care, universal and regardless of means. This was put into place by Aneurin Bevan in 1948 under Labour. By 1949 187 million people had received prescriptions and another 8.5 million had free dental care which was very expensive for the country. By 1951 some services had to be paid for by its users to help fund the NHS but in general it still provided free health care for all while, in most cases, not being means tested. Beveridges ideas had now been introduced into society, with many changes since their introduction, but in general they accomplished their aims. They would provide a comprehensive package to all from cradle to grave. Benefits would be universal, regardless of means. They would be funded by the people for the people by insurance based payments. It would be compulsory for all to pay a flat rate payment and would provide subsistence to those living below the poverty line. Even those who were above this line would receive universal non-means tested benefits. References: Spicker, P (Unknown): UK Social Policy: Available. An Introduction to Social Policy; www.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy ; Last accessed 14/10/2010 Bloy, M (2002): Workhouses and the Poor Law: Available. The Victorian Web; www.victorianweb.org; Last accessed 14/10/2010 Driver, F (1993): Power and Pauperism: Available. Spartacus Schoolnet; www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Lpoor1834.htm ; Accessed 14/10/2010 Sutton Pocket Histories: Class Handout Social Welfare 2010 Ensor, R (1980): England 1870 1914: Book Club Associates London; chapter 14; p 515