Poverty Flashcards
Who were Vagabonds?
A person who wanders from place to place without a home or a job
Why was there an increase in fear as a response to growth in vagabonds?
Threats to law and order in society grew
What were some reasons for the increase in poverty and vagabondage?
- Unemployment
- Rise in population
- Poor Harvests
- Henry VIlI had debased the coinage and people demanded higher prices as a result.
- Inflation
Why was there an increase in unemployment in Early Elizabethan England?
- Some farmers enclosed their land and switched to sheep farming. This meant fewer labourers were needed
- Some farmers could not afford to pay increased rents and they moved into towns
What is Debasement of the coinage?
The reduction in the value of coins by extracting some of the pure metal (gold or silver) contained within so that more coins can be produced
What is inflation?
A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money
Who were the idle poor?
Vagabonds who made no effort or attempt to find a job and make money
- idleness was seen as sinful and people felt they should be punished
Why were the poor and vagabonds feared?
They may spread plague and start rebellion
What were Elizabeth’s inital ideas to solve the vagabondage problems?
- She left it up to the Justice of Peace and local councillors
- There were specfic hospitals for the poor, insane and elderly
What was the 1563 Act for the Relief of the Poor?
It classed the poor people into three groups:
- Idle poor
- Deserving poor
- Deserving unemployed
What was the 1572 Vagabonds Act?
People caught begging would be whipped and burned in the ear
What was the 1576 Act of the Relief of the Poor?
Each county would build two houses of corrections for beggars where they would be forced to work.
