How significant were the changes in agriculture? (textile and coal industry too) (summarised version) Flashcards
What were the government’s economic aims?
-controlling public expenditure and raise revenue when required
-control wages and prices
-protect and promote oversees trade->more money
-relieve poverty and maintain public order
How did the government action to achieve their economic aims?
-changes in agriculture
-legislation passed to intervene in the economy (2 main acts)
-changes in industry
What was a result of the population rising on agriculture? Response?
-prices going up->rising food prices
-response = 9% of England enclosed
What was the result in Enclosures?
poverty
What was the Tillage Act? When?
-1563
-asserting that land which had been cultivated for crops (arable farming) couldn’t be enclosed ->for 4 consecutive years since 1528 would remain
-land which was currently cultivated for crops could not be converted->against enclosure
When were the Tillage Acts repealed? What does this show?
-1592/1593
-showing enclosures were not considered a problem
What did further acts passed by 1598 prevent?
prevent enclosure moving from arable to pasture farming
What did the government worry about enclosures?
-government doesn’t know what to do with enclosures->worried about social unrest
What is up and down husbandry?
-alternating land between arable and pasture farming->no need for fallow land
What new agricultural methods were there? (need to know at least 2/4)
-up and down husbandry
-new fertilisers
-selective breeding
-land under cultivation
What was the textile industry?
-biggest source of employment outside of agriculture
-production of broadcloths
-English textile industry had the cheapest raw wool in Europe
What was a result of migration of fleeing European Protestants?
-migration of fleeing European Protestants->new skills and trading links
-new draperies
When did the metal and coal industry significantly change post? Why?
-1585
-war with Spain
What was the Statute of Artificers? When?
-1563
-helped to regulate employment
-anyone who is unemployed has to find a job
How were wages changed as a result of the Statute of Artificers?
-set maximum wages not minimum (employers could pay as little as they wanted)->in 1563 inflation was increasing
-everyone had to work on the land unless a scholar, at sea or in a skilled occupation
How did the Statute of Artificers impact youth employment?
-youth unemployment->anyone under 30 who isn’t married->now bound to serve any employer who needed one->need to get a job
-JPs have to assess wage rates in line with prices (check people are being paid enough to get the food they need)->low level and rarely altered (prices going up - wages stayed the same)
How did the Statute of Artificers impact apprenticeships?
-act enforced a 7 year apprenticeship but it had to be in urban craft (carpenter, blacksmiths etc)
-limited the numbers of apprentices in towns occupations that were overcrowded
-drapers and goldsmiths could only have their sons (not needed to know)
-London was exempt from this apprenticeship
What was the success of the Statute of Artificers?
-did not take into account the increasing unemployment
-by fixing the maximum wages it held down wages at a time when more people were looking for work
-led to poverty
