Elizabeth: Theatre and the Poor Flashcards
(23 cards)
Who were the gentry?
People with no titles, but still had power and status because of their wealth.
How did the rise of the gentry affect England?
Manor houses were developed and fashions changed
How many theatres were there in 1559?
0
What law was passed against actors in 1572 and why?
The actors were punished as vagabonds because they were believed to be immoral people who caused trouble wherever they went.
In what year was the first theatre opened?
1576
Name three theatres.
The Rose, The Swan, The Globe
How were Elizabethan theatres designed?
There was an uncovered circular pit surrounded by roofed galleries.
Name a famous actor from Elizabethan times.
Richard Burbage
Why did the rich like the theatre? (2 reasons)
- It was an exciting night out (often theatres were built in places with bad reputations).
- They could be entertained while separated from the poor.
Why did the poor enjoy the theatre?
It was cheap entertainment, often close to where they lived.
Who disliked the theatre and why?
Puritans - they thought it encouraged immoral behavior.
Why did Elizabeth and the government come to support the theatre despite being initially opposed? (2 reasons)
- It kept the population happy and entertained so they were less likely to rebel.
- They could used plays as propaganda for the government.
Which play presented the Tudors and Elizabeth in a positive way?
Richard III
What was the Great Chain of Being?
The idea that everyone had their place in society and if this changed chaos would ensue.
What were 2 causes of poverty?
- The population rose 43% from 1550 to 1600 making jobs and food harder to get.
- Rising inflation meant prices rose but wages did not.
Why did poverty worsen in the 1590s?
There was a bad harvest between 1593-97 resulting in less food and rising prices.
Why did poverty worsen in Elizabethan England?
Because Henry VIII dissolved the monistaries which is where the poor would traditionally be looked after.
Which group of poor people were seen to deserve help?
The impotent poor - people who were either too young, too old, or too sick to work and provide for themselves.
Which group of poor people weren’t seen to deserve help?
The idle poor - people who were capable of working but chose not to and committed crime instead.
Give and example of LOCAL government helping the poor.
In Norwich alms were collected and given to the poor, and work was provided in workhouses.
What and when was the Elizabethan Poor Law?
The government’s solution to poverty; passed in 1597.
How did the Poor Law work?
A poor rate (a tax) was collected and used to pay for workhouses and relief for the deserving poor.
Was the Poor Law successful?
Yes - Helped maintain social order and stop rebellion.
No - Poverty continued to increase after the law was passed.
