Poor Culture

Question 1

Who were the gentry?

Answer 1

People who had no title but had status and power based on their wealth

Question 2

How did the rise of the gentry effect England

Answer 2

More manor houses were developed and fashions began to change

Question 3

How many theatres were there in England in 1559

Answer 3

0

Question 4

What law was passed against actors in 1572 and why

Answer 4

That actors were to be punished as vagabonds as they were immoral people who caused trouble wherever they went

Question 5

In what year was the first Theatre opened

Answer 5

1576

Question 6

Name three theatres

Answer 6

The Rose, The Swan and The Globe

Question 7

How were Elizabethan theatres designed

Answer 7

There was an uncovered circular pit with surrounding covered galleries

Question 8

Name one famous playwrights

Answer 8

William Shakespeare

Question 9

Name a famous actor

Answer 9

Richard Burbage

Question 10

Why did the rich like the theatre?

Answer 10

It was a chance to have an exciting night out – often theatres were built in areas with a bad reputation

They could be entertained but could do so while being separated from the poor

Question 11

Why did the poor like the theatre

Answer 11

Because it was cheap and they were often built in poor areas so it was close to where they live.

Question 12

Who disliked the Theatre and why

Answer 12

Puritans – they thought it encourage immoral behaviour

Question 13

Why did Elizabeth and her government support the theatre after initially disliking it?

Answer 13

London had a population of 200,000 1600 – entertainment kept them occupied and less likely to rebel

A plays content could be policed so that present the Queen and her government in a positive way

Question 14

Which Play presented the Tudors (including Elizabeth) in a positive way?

Answer 14

Richard III

Question 15

What was the Great Chain of Being

Answer 15

The idea that everything and everyone had a correct place in the world and that if this was challenged it would lead to chaos

Question 16

What were 2 causes of Poverty

Answer 16

The population rose by 43% between 1550 and 1600. Things like food and jobs became more difficult to get causing poverty.

Prices went up but wages stayed the same meaning people had less money

Question 17

Why did poverty become worse in the 1590s?

Answer 17

Because there were poor harvest 1593-97 meaning there was less food and increasing prices.

Question 18

Why did poverty become a more serious issue in Elizabethan England?

Answer 18

The monasteries had been closed by Henry VIII and this is where most of the poor were looked after meaning there was no one to look after them and nowhere to go.

Question 19

Which group of poor people were seen to deserve help

Answer 19

The impotent poor - those unable to provide for themselves because they were too young, too old or too ill.

Question 20

Which group of poor people were seen to be NOT deserving of help

Answer 20

The idle poor- vagabonds, those who were fit to work but chose not to and committed crimes.

Question 21

How did local government deal with the poor?

Answer 21

In Norwich Alms (money for the poor) was collected and work was provided them in the workhouse (a house where people worked0

Question 22

What was the Elizabethan Poor law

Answer 22

The governments solution to the problem of poverty

Question 23

When was the Poor Law passed

Answer 23

1597

Question 24

How did the Elizabethan Poor Law work

Answer 24

A “poor rate was collected (a tax) and this paid for the workhouse and relief payments for the deserving poor”

Question 25

How successful was the Poor Law

Answer 25

Success – it helped preserve the social order and there were no rebellions

Less successful – Poverty continued to increase even after the Poor law was introduced