2.2-The poor

Question 1

What percentage of all Elizabethan families were part of the labouring poor?

Answer 1

50%

Question 2

Between 1550 and 1600 how much did the population rise by?

Answer 2

43%

Question 3

What reduced the value of all currencies?

Answer 3

Following Spanish Exploration there was more silver in circulation throughout Europe

Question 4

What did Henry VIII do that added inflation?

Answer 4

He debased the coinage

Question 5

What removed a key source of Charity?

Answer 5

The dissolution of the monastries in 1530

Question 6

What were the impotent poor?

Answer 6

Old, Sick the disabled and children

Question 7

What was done to help the impotent poor?

Answer 7

They received a sum of money and some food each week, if they were unable to collect it was delivered to their house

Question 8

Who were the Able bodied poor?

Answer 8

People who could work but also wanted to work

Question 9

What was done to help the able- bodied poor?

Answer 9

.Each Parish was meant to build a workhouse where the poor would benefit the parish
.They got paid out of poor rate and received basic shelter and food
.They would remain in the workhouse until they found a normal job

Question 10

Who were the Idle Poor?

Answer 10

Viewed as Vagabonds- People who could work but who preferred to beg or steal

Question 11

What was done with the idle poor?

Answer 11

.The government made begging illegal-if you were caught you were flogged until your back was bloody

Question 12

What did Elizabeth do in 1560?

Answer 12

Carried out a full recoinage

Question 13

Which law in 1563 placed wage limits on skilled workers?

Answer 13

The statue of Artificers

Question 14

Name three local measures that were used to help the poor

Answer 14

.Alms were collected for the poor
.Census were carried out to make registers for the poor
.Workhouses provided work for the poor
.Efforts were made to stop begging
.In London several hospitals were set up which catered to different groups/needs

Question 15

When was the poor law passed through?

Answer 15

1597 Amended in 1601

Question 16

What was the poor laws aim?

Answer 16

.It stated that every parish was responsible for the poor and unemployed in that parish

Question 17

Give the two benefits of the poor rate

Answer 17

.Made the poor feel something was being done about them and keeps social order
.Some good work could be done by the poor to help the parish

Question 18

Give two ways how the government policies to help the poor were successful

Answer 18

.Important milestone-first time in history the government accepts responsibility for the welfare of the poor
.Poor law fills the gap after the dissolution of the monasteries
.It would last until 1834
.Provides help for the impotent and able bodied poor
.Helped maintain peace- no major rebellions

Question 19

How were government policies not successful in helping the poor?

Answer 19

.Poverty continued to increase despite new laws

.The government were very harsh on the idle poor-at worst they were hanged

Question 20

Give four ways poverty affected Elizabethan England

Answer 20

.Rising poverty caused by inflation, enclosure and population growth meant half of all people were poor
.People became worried about the dangers of poverty-fearing discontent and rebellion
.Government were forced to act
.Elizabethans drew distinctions between different types of poverty
.First time in history a government accepted responsibility for the welfare of the poor
.Poor law filled the gap after the dissolution of the monasteries
.Poor law would act for the next 200 years