"During the most active period of the Industrial Revolution, from 1795 to 1834, the creating of a labor market in England was prevented through the Speenhamland Law." Karl Polanyi, The Great Transformation, 1944
The Poor Law Reform of 1834 ended the Speenhamland System and did away with "the right to live" in England. Outdoor relief was withdrawn from the unemployed and a "market" for labor was created.
Conservatives in America often compare Medicaid and programs like SNAP to the Speenhamland System.
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