Elizabeth Unit: 3

Question 1

Why did attitudes change towards the poor during Elizabethan England?

Answer 1

• Fear that poor people were going to gang together and beggars and vagabonds were going to turn to crime
• There was fear that poor people spread disease
• That landowners began giving more to the poor

Question 2

What were the 2 types of “poor”?

Answer 2

• Impotent poor - People unable to work or earn money as a result of disability, age or other infirmity. These instead gained support from their community
• Able-bodied poor - People who were fit enough to work and had to be forced to work to prevent them from becoming beggars or vagabonds

Question 3

What actions were taken against or for the poor?

Answer 3

• Justices of the Peace were unpaid local officials which were put in charge of helping the local poor and unemployed through things such as collecting the tax to be put towards supporting the poor
• A nationwide poor rate was introduced to support the impotent poor and give them money. If someone refused to pay this then they would be put in jail
• begging was banned to discourage the population from becoming able-bodied poor
• Almshouses were introduced which were paid for by charities and allowed poor people to live inside a house instead of the streets

Question 4

Why was Sir Walter Raleigh significant?

Answer 4

• Raised funds for the colonisation of Virginia whilst also investigating and organising it
• Persuaded people to leave England and go live in Virginia
• Appointed the governor of Virginia
• Essentially created the blueprint for later English colonisation

Question 5

Why did the 1585 expedition to Virginia fail?

Answer 5

• The Tiger (ship carrying the perishables) was damaged which resulted in food and supplies going rotten and destroyed
• The ship was sent too late for planting food which meant they had to instead rely on the natives for food
• Many thought they would own land and earn money when in reality everyone had to work and do labour
• Too few farmers and too many merchants came meaning only a few could actually grow crops
• Native Americans did not fully respect the colonists and when they became too dependent on the Natives for food, the Natives had enough and fought the colonists

Question 6

Why was the 1587-90 expedition expected to be more successful?

Answer 6

• Women and families were on board so people could actually stay, reproduce and create a population
• People from poorer backgrounds came this time so more labour could be done this time as they were used to work
• People were incentivised with the promise of 500 acres of land
• Manteo was the lord of Roanoke and was working with the colonists meaning communication between the tribes and the colonists was easier

Question 7

Why was education increasing?

Answer 7

• Protestantism increasing meant that more young people wanted to read the bible and interpret it for themselves
• Humanism meaning that school would help people meet their full potential
• Trade increasing meant that more people needed to read, write and have acceptable maths skills

Question 8

What was education like for different people?

Answer 8

Rich - Tutors that lived together with the family, Noble children sent to noble families to finish education, learning in universities and Inns of Court

Middling sort - Grammar schools, petty schools, universities. This was for preparation for trade and business

Poor - Home education

Girls - Dame school

Question 9

Leisure in Elizabethan England

Answer 9

Nobility - Most expensive seats in theatres, bear/bull baiting, cock fighting, reading, writing poetry, music

Working class - Cheaper theatre areas, bear/bull baiting, cock fighting, lower class music (music in fairs and churches)