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 researchIdeal for undergraduate and postgraduate students, this is an essential resource for all interested in the British welfare state and social history.

List of TablesPrefaceAcknowledgementsSelect Time Chart, 1801-2016Introduction: Perspectives on the History of Welfare1. The Factory Question2. The Poor Law3. Public Health4. Education and Welfare5. Laissez-faire and State Intervention in the Mid-Nineteenth Century6. The Growing Awareness of Poverty7. Liberal Social Policy, 1905-148. Politics and Policy, 1914-399. War and Welfare in the 1940s10. The Welfare State in Modern BritainConclusionTwo Centuries of Welfare History: An OverviewDocumentary AppendixNotes and ReferencesSelect BibliographyIndex