Old Poor Law 1601

Question 0

Old Poor Law or Old Poor Laws ?

Answer 0

A combination of laws from 1552 through to 1601.

Also called Elizabethan Old Poor Law

Question 1

Why the Old Poor Law needed ?

Answer 1

To address the problems of the poor :
2 major economic processes which saw a rise in vagrancy in 16th Century -
the effects of the enclosure acts;
huge inflation - caused by import of precious metals from the New World.
Also closure of monasteries -

Question 2

Who were the undeserving ?

Answer 2

The idle - those who were able to work (the able bodied) but chose not to

Question 3

Who were the deserving ?

Answer 3

Those who were able bodied and wanted to work but were unable to find work

Question 4

Poor Relief terminology

Answer 4

Parish.
Indoor Relief.
Outdoor Relief.
Vagrancy.
Overseer.
Pauper.
The impotent poor - aged, sick, blind, lunatics - received institutional help in poor houses and almhouses
Poor rate.

Question 5

Legislation:

1662 Act of Settlement

Answer 5

Everyone had a legalised place of settlement

Question 6

Legislation:

1722 Workhouse Act

Answer 6

The ‘Workhouse Test’ - can only get relief by entering a workhouse

Question 7

Legislation:

1782 Gilbert’s Act

Answer 7

Merged Parishes into Unions to build more Workhouses and also encouraged Outdoor Relief

Question 8

Legislation:

1795 Speenhamland System

Answer 8

An allowance system related to family size and cost of living

Named after parish in Berkshire

Form of outdoor relief

Question 9

What Problems led to the old Poor Law ?

Answer 9

Increasing population.
Napoleonic Wars - injured increasingly problematic.
Enclosure Acts.
Industrialisation (1850 onwards)

Question 10

What criticisms - end of C18 and start of C19

Resulted in 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act

Answer 10

1. Abolitionists - Malthus and Ricardo
2. Utilitarianism - Jeremy Bentham
3. Victorian values (humanitarian)
4. Policies used by some local reformers
5. Reports and publications

Question 11

Who was Malthus and what did he do ?

Answer 11

Abolitionist

Question 12

Who was Ricardo and what did he do ?

Answer 12

Abolitionist

Question 13

Utilitarian

Answer 13

Jeremy Bentham

Question 14

Underlying principles

Answer 14

2 main :

1. basic humanitarian concern
2. a need to classify the poor (means-testing) ie deserving and undeserving to ensure that those mostly in need would benefit

Question 15

What were the main principles of The Act

Answer 15

• put poor relief under local control
• to address Indoor relief versus outdoor relief:
• classify the poor :
• Poorhouses for the impotent poor:
  elderly, sick, non-able bodied
• Work for the able-bodied
• Punishment for the idle

Question 16

Poor Relief Origins

Answer 16

Can be seen back in the 14th Century with the introduction of Poor Relief following the massive impact on the population (a third) in deaths resulting from the plague and consequent lack of workers which in turn raised wages into16th century an understanding and awareness of vagrancy grew. 
The start of a capitalist state -
Keep down wages 
Provide a pool of available labourers 
Prevent social disorder

Question 17

What where the 2 main economic causes that led to an increase in vagrancy in 16th century

Answer 17

1. the effects of the enclosure acts;
2. huge inflation - caused by import of precious metals from the New World

Also closure of monasteries -