Building the Invisible Orphanage - A Prehistory of the American Welfare System

This book examines the connection between the decline of the orphanage and the rise of welfare in America. Matthew Crenson argues that the prehistory of the welfare system was played out not on the stage of national politics or class conflict but in the micropolitics of institutional management.

List of contents

The decline of the orphanage and the invention of welfare; the institutional inclination; two dimensions of institutional change; institutional self-doubt and internal reform; from orphanage to home; the orphanage reaches outward; "the unwalled institution of the state"; the perils of placing out; "the experiment of having no home"; mobilizing for mothers' pensions; religious wars; conclusion - an end to the orphanage.

About the author

Matthew A. Crenson is Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University.

Summary

This book examines the connection between the decline of the orphanage and the rise of welfare in America. Matthew Crenson argues that the prehistory of the welfare system was played out not on the stage of national politics or class conflict but in the micropolitics of institutional management.

Product details

• Authors: Matthew A. Crenson, Crenson Matthew A.
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 16.03.2001
• EAN: 9780674005549
• ISBN: 978-0-674-00554-9
• Weight: 476 g
• Illustrations: 10 halftones, 1 table
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; History, HISTORY / Social History, HISTORY / United States / 20th Century, Later 20th century c 1950 to c 1999, United States of America, USA, History of the Americas, Political science and theory, Child welfare and youth services