Economic Change And Its Social Impact

Question 1

1553?

Answer 1

Serious economic situation

Question 2

1556-58?

Answer 2

Serious distress
Series of bad harvests
Population suffered bouts of epidemics including the plague

Question 3

Reasons for social distress?

Answer 3

Limited increase in productivity (particularly in agriculture) led to alongside population growth caused inflation
Debasement of coinage made inflation worse
Harvest failures of 1555 and 1556 led to severe food shortages, and strain on wages for the poor
Impact of sweating sickness
High taxation to pay for war against France

Question 4

What did gov do to address the issues?

Answer 4

1556 recoinage plans drawn up
1555 the Poor Law Act to help donations for poor relief
Encouragement for conversion of pasture land to crop farming
Movement of industries from cities to countryside was discouraged in an attempt to reduce urban unemployment
Not all methods were a success however

Question 5

Econ success for Mary?

Answer 5

Reorganisation of administration and finance of the navy
6 new ships built and others repaired
Laid foundations for powerful navy of Elizabeth’s reign