The Evolution of the British Welfare State

This established introductory textbook provides students with a full overview of British social policy and social ideas since the late 18th century. It is the essential starting point for anyone learning about how and why Britain created the first welfare state, and its development into the 21st century.
Offering a comprehensive historical survey, this book analyses the emergence of the first welfare state, its later adaptations in the light of changing socio-political climates, and takes the story up to the present day, with discussion of the Coalition and Theresa May's early Prime Ministership, and an overview conclusion that identifies key issues in modern British social history.
Building on the strong foundations of the prior editions, The Evolution of the Welfare State Sixth Edition has been updated to include:
- New intersectional viewpoints on welfare, such as the role of gender
- Expanded coverage of the post-1948 period
- Updated methodological perspectives in the light of the latest research
Ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students, this is an essential resource for all interested in the British welfare state and social history.

Derek Fraser was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Teesside, UK. He was formerly Professor of Modern History at the University of Bradford, UK and Professor of English History at the University of California at Los Angeles, USA.

List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Select Time Chart, 1801-2016
Introduction: Perspectives on the History of Welfare
1. The Factory Question
2. The Poor Law
3. Public Health
4. Education and Welfare
5. Laissez-faire and State Intervention in the Mid-Nineteenth Century
6. The Growing Awareness of Poverty
7. Liberal Social Policy, 1905-14
8. Politics and Policy, 1914-39
9. War and Welfare in the 1940s
10. The Welfare State in Modern Britain
Conclusion
Two Centuries of Welfare History: An Overview
Documentary Appendix
Notes and References
Select Bibliography
Index