change and continuities in attitudes to deal with poverty

Question 1

change in emphasis on the able bodied poor

Answer 1

1572 and 1576 poor laws:
1572- retribution /punishment
1576- houses of correction and helping to provide work

retribution still at the heart of the response but houses of correction indicate beginnings of rehabilitation and recognition by authorities there isn’t enough work and they need to provide it.

Question 2

increasing emphasis on wealthy private individuals to contribute to poor relief

Answer 2

poor relief compulsory in london then followed by 1563 act where compulsory across the country.
estimated by historians that merchants in larger towns contributed 60% of all charity given to poor.
private contributions rose from 227,000 (1541-60) to 634,000 (1601-20).

shows increasing organisation from state and growing expectation for people to give and donate.

Question 3

changing actions towards poor reflect changing social and economic circumstances

Answer 3

1547 vagrancy act- harsh punishments to reflect changing social conditions and concerns for social order.
1552 and 1572 poor laws- registered by authorities, licenses signed by 2 jps

harsher punishments introduced when risk of violent disorder was greater and more control on impotent poor to show authority.

Question 4

continuity in different attitudes to 2 types of poor

Answer 4

1531 poor law- help for impotent, punishment for able bodied
1547 vagrancy act- impotent looked after in houses for disabled, able bodied branded, sold into slavery and executed.

impotent to be helped but controlled,able bodied to be punished and closely controlled.

Question 5

continuing belief that able bodied are fundamentally lazy and therefore need punishment

Answer 5

1531 and 1547 acts- punishments
1563 statute- forced into work
1572/76 poor laws- forced to work through houses of correction

still believed to be lazy and had to be forced to work.

Question 6

continuing belief that wealthy should contribute to alms

Answer 6

poor relief compulsory in london, 60% of contributions from merchants
1552 poor law- parish priests to put pressure on people to contribute to poor relief
1563 act- compulsory payments for poor relief

shows growing expectation for wealthy to help and give to impotent poor and increasing organisation from state.