Impact of economic, social + religious developments Flashcards
Poor relief
Problems of poverty + vagabondage remained widespread in england
Reasons for poverty
-Rising population
-Real wages for the labouring poor= low
-Harvest failures= food shortages in 1550s-1590s
Deserving poor
-Old people, widows + those whose disabilities prevented them from having jobs
Undeserving poor
-Beggars or vagrants
What role did the church play when it came to the poor?
-Prior to the Protestant reformation, the church was responsible for providing poor relief
What did the Protestant reformation result in?
-The destruction of most institutions that offered poor relief
-Parliament had attempted to deal w the problem through the passing of acts in 1552 + 1555.
-Wasn’t until 1570 that the legislation became effective
-Cecil grew worried w the large numbers of the poor as they represented a threat to law and order
Stabilising the currency
-Both Northumberland + Mary wanted to stabilise the currency but it was Elizabeth who actually did it
-Withdrew the debased coins and replaced them by minted coins
-Govt didn’t want to turn to debasement for the rest of the century
HOWEVER, prices still began to rise
Impact of religious development
-Many of the returning Protestant exiles viewed Elizabeth as the ‘English Deborah’ a heroine who protected the Israelites
Evidence Elizabeth wanted to keep Catholic conservative elements
-Disproved of the clergy marrying
-Distrusted marrying
-Ensured preservation of musical culture of cathedrals
-1560- prayer book in Latin confirmed the Catholic mass
-Her appointment of Matthew Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury
Evidence Elizabeth wanted Protestantism
-Appointment of new bishops were largely Protestant
-Removed old Marian bishops
-Elizabeth + others saw the religious settlement as an act of state which defined the relationship between the crown + the church
