Elizabeth England c1568- 1603: The Poor

Question 1

Who were known as paupers?

Answer 1

The poorest members of society who were unable to find work.

Question 2

Finish the sentence: Paupers relied on charity to survive which meant…

Answer 2

begging or going to the local church for help.

Question 3

Name 4 reasons why poverty rose significantly in Elizabethan England.

Answer 3

1. Previous monarch’s actions
2. Changes in agriculture
3. Population increase (2.8 million to 4 million)
4. Flu outbreak in 1556 that killed 200,000 people

Question 4

List 3 ways Henry VII contributed to the poverty in Elizabethan England:

Answer 4

1. He limited the rights of noble to hold private armies as he felt threatened- this left many soldiers without work.
2. Reformation meant monasteries closed leaving the sick/ poor with no help
3. Monks, nuns and othe Church employees also lost their jobs

Question 5

Which 2 monarchs led to the collapse of the cloth trade?

Answer 5

Henry VII and Edward VI

Question 6

How did the bad harvests between 1594 and 98 affect England?

Answer 6

It led to food shortages and starvation in parts of England.
. This also meant increased prices which led to inflation.

Question 7

What was the system known as enclosure in farming?

Answer 7

When landlords kept sheep on their land surrounded by fence rather than grow crops.

Question 8

Where did many unemployed farmers go in search of employment?

Answer 8

Towns and cities

Question 9

What is rack renting?

Answer 9

Where landlords demanded increased rent from a tenant or for a property due to a shortage of places to live.

Question 10

What was known as the deserving poor?

Answer 10

Those like the many paupers that couldn’t help their situation and we’re not to blame for their poverty.

Question 11

What was known as the deserving poor?

Answer 11

Those like the many paupers that couldn’t help their situation and we’re not to blame for their poverty.

Question 12

What were the attitudes towards the deserving poor?

Answer 12

. Many nobles believed they were ‘better’ than the poor due to the ‘Great Chain of Being’
. Many believed it was their duty to help those below them in society
. Charities grew and almshouses were established

Question 13

What were almshouses?

Answer 13

A charity building set up to provide food and rest for the poor.

Question 14

Who were known as the undeserving poor?

Answer 14

Some paupers wo were seen to be untrustworthy, idle beggars who had no interest in actually working.

Question 15

What were the attitudes towards the undeserving poor?

Answer 15

. Seen as tricksters or criminals
. Others were viewed as idle or lazy

Question 16

What was a vagabond?

Answer 16

A person who wanders from place to place without a home, searching for work.

Question 17

What book was written on vagabonds in 1567, including many scammers and tricksters?

Answer 17

Warning against vagabonds

Question 18

Who wrote the popular book on vagabonds?

Answer 18

Thomas Harman

Question 19

What law was passed in 1495 (before Elizabeth) that tried to deal with poverty?

Answer 19

Packers for punished in the stocks or sent back to their home towns.

Question 20

What were stocks?

Answer 20

Criminals would be held by the hands and feet while people through things at them.

Question 21

Name 3 laws l passed in1531 (before Elizabeth) that tried to deal with poverty?

Answer 21

1. Beggars were publicly whipped
2. Those caught the second time would have a whole burned through their ear
3. A third offense would mean they were hanged

Question 22

Although many old laws on poverty remained for most of Elizabeth’s reign, the ____ ‘Act for ______ the poor on ____’ placed the responsibility on local authorities for poverty.

Answer 22

1. 1576
2. setting
   3.work

Question 23

True or false: Different authorities that with poverty in their own way.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

What was a House of Correction?

Answer 24

Where beggars would be forced to spend the night as punishment.

Question 25

When was the first ever Poor Law introduced?

Answer 25

1601

Question 26

What were 3 things that the first ever Poor Law stated?

Answer 26

1. The wealthy should be taxed to pay for the care of the sick and vulnerable
2. Fit and healthy paupers should be given work
3. Those who refuse to work was still dealt with harshly: they could be whipped or placed in the House of Correction

Question 27

What were the 3 groups the poor were categorised into?

Answer 27

1. The helpless poor (the sick and old)
2. The able- bodied poor (those considered poor)
3. The idle poor

Question 28

Finish the sentence: The helpless poor were…

Answer 28

given food and accommodation.

Question 29

Finish the sentence: The able-bodied poor were…

Answer 29

made to work in exchange for food.

Question 30

Finish the sentence: The helpless poor were…

Answer 30

punished and sent to a House of Correction.

Question 31

Why do some historians argue that the 1601 law was unsuccessful?

Answer 31

. Begging seemed to have decreased due to the threat of the House of correction rather than the law
. It made each area responsible for its own paupers
. Someone simply sent from one place to another without receiving help