Edward's reign - Social and Economic Problems 1547-1553 Flashcards
What does Vagrancy mean?
The state of living as a vagrant; homelessness.
What was Common pasture?
Common land on which peasants could graze their sheep, cattle and pigs.
What does Enclosure mean?
Involved putting up a fence or hedge around ground that had previously been open.
What is Arable land?
Any land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.
What does Debasement mean?
Lowering the value of a currency.
Why was the Vagrancy Act passed in 1547?
- Large numbers of the poor turned to crime and others became beggars.
- Lacking in Police Force, the government was often forced into harsh measures to prevent such groups from becoming involved in unrest.
What did the Vagrancy Act in 1547 do?
Condemned vagrants to slavery for two years for a first offence and a life for a second.
How did Inflation and rising prices affect the nation?
Finance wars against France and Scotland, Henry VIII and Edward VI’s government debased the coinage (1526 - coins contained c92.5%. 1551 - coins contained c22.5% silver) ~ inflation ~ impact on prices as more money was available ~ poverty ~ fall in the standard of living.
How much did the population rise from 1525-1550?
Population (might of) rose from c2.3 million to c3 million.
How did enclosure affect the nation?
Common land could be enclosed and land was converted from arable to sheep farming ~ villagers destroying the fences or hedges and was unpopular as was believed to cause unemployment.
How did Decline in living standards affect the nation?
Large numbers of the poor turned to crime and others became beggars.
How did Poor harvests affect the nation?
Drove prices of food up even more.
