College Honors Program

Date of Creation

5-2015

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Therese McBride

Second Advisor

Andrew Futterman

Abstract

This thesis explores philanthropy in the emerging middle class of Victorian England through an examination of the London Charity Organization Society (COS). Poverty was seen as a critical social ailment in need of reform. The prevalence of a new secular morality, combined with the philosophy that local civic action should work in cooperation with government action, resulted in organized private and public charitable involvement to alleviate poverty..

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