Federal disaster relief predates the modern welfare state by over a century

Evidence

Veterans’ benefits, indeed, had a double purpose. Men would be more likely to enlist if they thought a grateful nation would take care of them later, when they might be old and sick and poor. And, although the federal government avoided anything that smacked of poor relief, there was in fact a tradition of federal disaster relief. It was at times controversial, but it was consistent throughout American history. — Lawrence M. Friedman, A History of American Law, 1201

Categorization

• QUESTION: How does this early pattern of distinguishing ‘worthy’ (veterans, disaster victims) from ‘unworthy’ (paupers) welfare map onto modern debates over federal aid? Worth chasing.
• SEED: Angle: the deep American tradition of blameless-victim federal relief, and how ‘worthy vs unworthy poor’ framing has stayed constant from 1815 earthquake claims to modern disaster aid controversies.