poverty Flashcards
what happened to beggars from 1531
there were publicly whipped
what happened if unlicensed beggars were caught for a second time
they would have a hole burned in their ear
what would happen if unlicensed beggars were caught a third time
they would be hanged
what did the 1576 ‘act for setting the poor on work’ do
place the responsibility for finding work for the poor in the hands of local authorities while the national policy still focused on punishment
what approach was taken to poverty in London
- Bridewell Palace was used as a shelter for the homeless
- a new hospital, known as Bedlam was established for the mentally ill
- other hospitals were opened for orphans and the sick
how did York deal with the problem of poverty
- in 1515, York corporation began issuing beggar licenses
-> licenses beggars were required to wear a badge so they could be identified - from 1528, a master beggar was appointed, whose job it was to keep a check on the rest
- many beggars were expected to work - weaving and spinning in particular helped increase the city’s growing industry
- those who refused to work were sent to the house of correction or were returned to the town/village they came from
how did Ipswich deal with the problem of poverty
- in 1569 it introduced a licensing system for beggars and increased support for the poor
- one of the irs’s towns to open a hospital specifically to help the old and sick who couldn’t afford treatment
- youth training scheme was introduced
-> helped children learn a trade that would bring them out of poverty - house of correction
how did Norwich respond to poverty
- 1570 a survey showed 80% of the population lived in poverty
- poor were separated into ‘idle poor’ and ‘unfortunate poor’
- ‘idle poor’ were given work such a knitting or sewing
- ‘unfortunate poor’ were given food and other forms of care and support
-> system was effective in limiting numbers of people who received poor relief - taxed its rich citizens to pat for the care of the vulnerable
when was the first ever poor law introduced
1601
what did the 1601 poor law state
in every area of the country, the rich should be taxed to pay for support and care of the vulnerable, including the old and sick
fit and healthy poor were given work
the helpless poor:
- sick and old were given food to live on and placed in special homes where they could be cared for
the able bodied poor
those who were considered fit, including children, were expected to work
were given food and drink in payment, and sometimes, somewhere to sleep
the idle poor
those who were seen as lazy were whipped then send to a house of correction where they would be forced to work
how were the 1601 poor laws successful
- saw in decrease in amount of begging
how were the 1601 poor laws not entirely successful
- each area was responsible for its own poor -> arguments over which areas paupers belonged to
- without a clear home some paupers were simply sent from one area to another
