4) Tudor Legislation 4: Elizabethan Legislation 5: The 1598 and 1601 Acts Flashcards
What steps were taken in a series of statutes passed in 1598?
Positive steps to tackle poverty and vagrancy were taken in a series of statutes passed in 1598.
Once again, what effort was made?
Once again, an effort to deal with the ‘professional poor’ was made in the 1598 Act.
What happened to the professional poor in the 1598 Act?
The professional poor were to be whipped and returned to their native areas. They were then expected to work unless they had some sort of disability, and it they continued to cause trouble they would be imprisoned and if that didn’t work, executed.
What act of 1598 was far more important?
‘An Act for the Relief of the Poor’ was far more important.
What did An Act for the Relief of the Poor reflect?
An Act for the Relief of the Poor reflected the lessons learnt over the last century and showed a new humane approach to certain kinds of poverty.
What did An Act for the Relief of the Poor stipulate?
An Act for the Relief of the Poor stipulated the duties of those responsible for the poor such as Church Wardens. They were also given the power to place the children of the poor in work.
In An Act for the Relief of the Poor, what were the public expected to do?
In An Act for the Relief of the Poor, the public were expected to contribute taxation in order to help the poor. The children of the poor were also expected to work as apprentices - boys until 24 and girls 21.
What was the money raised by taxation used for?
It was used to support the poor by providing houses for them.
Assuming that all aspect of the Act would be followed, what did the government state?
They stated that there was no longer any justification for vagrancy and begging.
What did the government assume somewhat ignorantly?
They assumes, somewhat ignorantly, that the act would be followed by everyone, everywhere, when there was no enforcement agencies, and they simply relied on JPs to enforce acts. This meant that people all over the country weren’t going to listen to what they said in London.
What was the 1598 Act the basis of?
The 1598 Act was the basis of the poor law legislation for the next 250 years.
