Medicine Through TimeDeep Dive
Why Was Government Reluctant to Act?
Part of Public Health — GCSE History
This deep dive covers Why Was Government Reluctant to Act? within Public Health for GCSE History. Revise Public Health in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 10 exam-style questions and 4 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 13 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 13
Practice
10 questions
Recall
4 flashcards
🧠 Why Was Government Reluctant to Act?
Laissez-faire: Victorian belief that government shouldn't interfere. People should look after themselves.
Cost: Clean water and sewers were expensive. Who would pay? Taxpayers and businesses resisted.
Miasma: Wrong theory meant wrong solutions. Fighting "bad air" instead of contaminated water.
What changed? Great Stink (self-interest), 1867 Reform Act (workers could vote — government had to care about them), germ theory (1861+) proved real cause.