Life in Elizabethan Times Flashcards
(14 cards)
What were views to those in poverty originally
That they were lower in society and didn’t deserve respect as they didn’t work because they didn’t want to (undeserving poor)
What is deserving poor
Those who couldn’t work due to illness age or injury and deserved pity and help
Who were undeserving poor
Those who didn’t deserve help and could work but chose not to
Why was there so much poverty in Elizabethan England?
Due to the reformation which caused monasteries to be shut down and private armies to be disbanded or reduced led to high unemployment and the increase in poverty
Why did Protestants dislike theatre?
They believed it was immoral and a waste of time
Why did poverty increase?
-population increase (2.4 - 4 mil)
-rack renting (increasing rent prices due to limited places available for the poor)
-outbreak of flu in 1556 killing 200,000
-bad harvests lead to inflation between 1594/98
How did York deal with poverty?
-York had recently become prosperous so there was an increase in beggars
-1515, they begin issuing beggar licenses (16 years before other cities)
-1528, a master beggar is appointed to check on other beggars
-during Elizabeth’s reign beggars were expected to work and those who refused were sent to a house of correction (prison) or sent back home
How did Norwich deal with poverty
-1570 a survey found 80 percent of the population lived in poverty
-made the idle poor work
-cared for the unfortunate poor
-taxed the rich to care for the beggars
How did ipswitch deal with poverty?
-1569, they introduce a license system for beggars and increase support for the poor
-open a hospital specifically for the old and sick
-youth training scheme was introduced to help children in poverty
-ipswitch was the first to build a house of correction
What was the idea of the “idle” poor
Beggars that people believed were able to work but chose not to out of laziness
How was poverty dealt with prior to Elizabeth
Punishments like whipping, burning holes in ears, stocks and hanging following the 1531 laws
What was the 1576 Act fit setting the poor on work
Placed responsibility of finding work for the poor on local authorities, while national policy still focused on punishment
When was the first ever poor law introduced?
1601
What did the first poor law introduce
In each area of the country the rich should be taxed to pay for care and support of the people por and the healthy poor be given work
