Poverty and Disorder Flashcards
(38 cards)
What drove the Elizabethan poor law policies?
Elizabethan poor law policies were driven by localised fear and confidence at the centre
What was evident in English society by 1580?
By 1580 there were clear structural economic issues: enclosures, over reliance on the cloth trade, international competition
What did the contemporary debate of poverty and disorder focus on?
Contemporary discourse on poverty and disorder focused on ideas of human failings and how to classify the poor- i.e. deserving, undeserving
What is evident in late Elizabethan urban censuses?
In late Elizabethan urban censuses there is a clear record of the labouring poor (willing but unable to work)
What was the tripartite classification system of poverty which emerged in Elizabethan England?
The Elizabethan era saw the emergence of the tripartite classification of the impotent, the thriftless and the labouring poor
When was decisive legislation passed in regards to poverty and disorder?
In 1597 and 1601 there was decisive legislation passed with regards to poverty and disorder: The Vagabonds Act and An Act For The Relief Of The Poor
What did the Vagabonds Act and An Act For The Relief Of The Poor establish as the management for the English poor?
Vagrants were to be whipped, the impotent relieved, and the unemployed found work
What does Tudor social legislation indicate about the nature of governance in England?
Tudor social legislation is evidence of a paternalistic moral tone- especially considering the rhetoric of social justice surrounding monarchy
How were poverty and disorder acts found nationwide support?
Poverty and disorder acts were infused with references to the body politic- a key early modern concern- in order to garner support
What is a crucial aspect of Tudor propaganda with regards to poverty and disorder?
A crucial aspect of Tudor propaganda with regards to poverty and disorder is the success of the metaphor of disease for idleness- that it is infecting the body politic
What can be said of the breadth of poverty-related policies passed in the Tudor era?
The sheer breadth of policy concerns shows an overstretched regime outstripping its own resources
What has changed in the historiography of Tudor mechanisms regarding poverty and disorder?
A new emphasis on limitations of policies and their implementation seeks to challenge traditional interpretations clouded by the Victorian tradition which exaggerated the extent of government capabilities
How can Tudor social policy be depicted as comprehensive?
Tudor social policy can be seen as comprehensive because by 1598 there were regular presentments (legal lay-outs of the context) established
What was the most severe social issue faced by Tudor governments?
The most severe social issue faced by Tudor governments was dearths (subsistence crises)
How did Tudor governments attempt to manage periods of dearth?
Periods of dearth were managed via dearth orders, although there are cases such as in 1587 where counties refuse to act and restrict grain- there was also a staying clear of terms such as famine
How can the Privy Council’s paramountcy be questioned?
Although the Privy Council had indisputable power, it felt it necessary to justify actions with precedent and statute law until 1638
How can failures in dearth management be studied?
We can study government failures in dearth management by looking at records of grain surveys and food rioting
How can the centre / periphery disparity between social policy and local desires be exemplified?
The centre / periphery disparity in social policies can be shown through the lack of implementation of the Ale Assize (matching ale prices to that of corn)
What should be remembered about the Poor Laws and their continual veneration?
Poor rates had been levied prior to the 1590s, and implementation of the poor laws lagged in the north to the point of the Lord Lieutenant criticising it in 1586.
What were the limitations of parish overseers?
Parish overseers were often distrusted, and although there to manage disputes and petitions to the poor laws, administration varied and often allowed begging out of ease.
What were the disputes often dealt with in the poor law mechanisms?
The disputes dealt with by overseers of the poor were often related to the life-cycle or accidents: orphaning, widowing, disability etc.
What can be said about the use of poor laws for the average Elizabethan subject?
Poor laws were often viewed as a last resort, sustenance was instead maintained by sacrificing comforts, appealing to kin networks and informal charity
What was the nature of the poor laws in 1590s Kent?
Poor laws in 1590s Kent had a default rate of 10-15% because of conservatism, snobbery, and self-interest leading to falls in revenues
By how much could poor law revenues fall due to a lack of parish participants?
poor law rates were known to fall up to 60% because of denial of payment
