American Paupers-Systems of Charity and Social Control

Poverty has been an undeniable thread in the American tapestry since English settlers first sought a "new land of opportunity." From those earliest days, guided by the legacy of English poor laws, North America has wrestled with the profound challenge of defining and caring for its most vulnerable. We've witnessed a long procession of approaches: from the careful establishment of settlements to the stark realities of "outdoor" and "indoor" relief, from responses that were often punitive and paternalistic to societal shifts in understanding destitution. These evolving perspectives have deeply shaped our nation's social and political soul.
Yet, who truly recognizes the role America's poorest citizens played in forging this nation? It is seldom acknowledged that through their often-invisible struggles for survival and dignity, they helped pioneer the very concept of equality that would become a cornerstone of American ideals.
This work invites you to journey into the heart of early New England, particularly Massachusetts, to uncover the untold stories of these marginalized individuals. Their lives, often absent from grand narratives, were central to the social development and governance of early America. Discover how their resilience and their unyielding quest for basic human dignity planted the seeds of equality that continue to challenge and define our nation.