Poverty Flashcards
What were the poor defined as?
-People who spent 80% of their income on bread.
What was an itinerant?
-Someone who moved away from home to find work.
What was economic recession?
The decline of value of all goods and services produced within a country.
What is rural depopulation?
-When the population of the countryside falls as people move away in search of a better life.
What are vagabonds
-Homeless people roaming the countryside looking to gain or steal money.
What were the main causes of poverty?
- Growing population
- Inflation
- Changes in farming, enclosure
- Changes in the cloth trade.
- Wars
How did growing population increase poverty?
Between 1560-1600 the population rose by 1.3 million. Created scarcity of work, pressure on food supply, and affected the number of homeless.
How did inflation increase poverty?
Food prices rise faster than wages. Caused by debasement and poor harvests. Created higher rates of starvation.
How did changes in farming and enclosure increase poverty?
Less labourers needed, as there were less intensive methods farming such as sheep. Enclosure took way land ordinary people depended on. Increased unemployment and rural depopulation, population in cities increased.
How did changes in cloth trade increase poverty?
Fewer cloths were sold, meaning less income. Meant the population had less money from trade and less jobs.
How did wars increase poverty?
War with Spain and wars with France in Henry’s time created wounded soldiers who couldn’t work and also increased taxes to fund the war. Also disrupts trade.
How did Elizabeth take action against poverty?
- Statute of Artificers 1572: Local support from poor rate tax, overseers of the poor to help poor relief with justice of peace.
- Vagabonds act 1576: Beggars sent to work in house of correction. Justice of peace kept stock of materials in towns, so unemployed could be given work.
- Poor relief act 1601: 4 overseers in each parish, ensured orphans had apprenticeships and provided work to able bodies. Elderly or sick sent to live in almshouses, providing safety. Everyone had to pay a poor rate or they could be imprisoned,
