[celmak]

"Google poor laws."

Did. The British had them; but I did not find any "poor laws" prior to the constitution. The only "poor law" that I found was one in NY after the Constitution was ratified. But then, how Christian - self governing - is NY? Can you give a specific link to a site?

[DannyTN]

Maybe I should have said google "Poor Laws in the colonies". The point is that there was very much an active state driven poor relief program. It wasn't done all by charities like today's libertarians would have you believe.

Poor Relief in the United States

From Poor Law to Welfare State

[TurboZamboni]

Arlen Sphincter has some Scottish law on that.