Premium Members Get 10% Off and Earn Rewards Find Out More
Begging in America, 1850-1940: The Needy, the Frauds, the Charities and the Law

The poverty that drives people to begging has been a pressing social issue in the United States since the beginning. This historical work explores begging1and beggars in the period 1850 to 1940, with emphasis on how the police, the courts, the media and private charity organizations dealt with them. Efforts to suppress mendicancy are explored, including legislation, police crackdowns, and public vouchers for meals and shelter. Of particular interest is the way in which media portrayals have guided public perception of mendicants.

Despite the massive social upheavals the last two centuries have brought, all efforts to suppress begging have failed. Many of the complaints and arguments made against beggars and begging in 1850 and 1900 and 1940 were also made into the 21st century because, in the end, the public continued to give alms.

1111758640
Begging in America, 1850-1940: The Needy, the Frauds, the Charities and the Law

The poverty that drives people to begging has been a pressing social issue in the United States since the beginning. This historical work explores begging1and beggars in the period 1850 to 1940, with emphasis on how the police, the courts, the media and private charity organizations dealt with them. Efforts to suppress mendicancy are explored, including legislation, police crackdowns, and public vouchers for meals and shelter. Of particular interest is the way in which media portrayals have guided public perception of mendicants.

Despite the massive social upheavals the last two centuries have brought, all efforts to suppress begging have failed. Many of the complaints and arguments made against beggars and begging in 1850 and 1900 and 1940 were also made into the 21st century because, in the end, the public continued to give alms.

49.95 In Stock
Begging in America, 1850-1940: The Needy, the Frauds, the Charities and the Law

Begging in America, 1850-1940: The Needy, the Frauds, the Charities and the Law

by Kerry Segrave
Begging in America, 1850-1940: The Needy, the Frauds, the Charities and the Law

Begging in America, 1850-1940: The Needy, the Frauds, the Charities and the Law

by Kerry Segrave

Overview

The poverty that drives people to begging has been a pressing social issue in the United States since the beginning. This historical work explores begging1and beggars in the period 1850 to 1940, with emphasis on how the police, the courts, the media and private charity organizations dealt with them. Efforts to suppress mendicancy are explored, including legislation, police crackdowns, and public vouchers for meals and shelter. Of particular interest is the way in which media portrayals have guided public perception of mendicants.

Despite the massive social upheavals the last two centuries have brought, all efforts to suppress begging have failed. Many of the complaints and arguments made against beggars and begging in 1850 and 1900 and 1940 were also made into the 21st century because, in the end, the public continued to give alms.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780786465699
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date: 10/10/2011
Pages: 208
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Cultural historian Kerry Segrave is the author of dozens of books on such diverse topics as drive-in theaters, ticket-scalping, lie detectors, jukeboxes, smoking and shoplifting. He lives in British Columbia.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
 1. Begging Prior to 1850
 2. Description, Prevalence, Style, Attitude, 1850–1899
 3. Frauds, Fakes, Myths, 1850–1899
 4. Psychology, Worthiness, Solutions, 1850–1899
 5. Charity Organizations, 1850–1899
 6. Police and the Courts, 1850–1899
 7. Description, Prevalence, Style, Attitude, 1900–1940
 8. Frauds, Fakes, Myths, 1900–1940
 9. Psychology, Worthiness, Solutions, 1900–1940
10. Charity Organizations, 1900–1940
11. Police and the Courts, 1900–1940
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Customer Reviews