Poverty- Explanation & Response Flashcards
What effect did an increase in the population have on food?
Between 1520 and 1600, England’s population almost doubled from 2.4 million to 4.1 million.
This meant that there was not enough food to meet demand, so prices of food soared and many starved.
What effect did rising food prices have on wages?
Rising food prices meant that yeomen farmers had increased incomes.
What effect did an increase in the population have on wages?
There was more competition for work, so the wages of the labouring poor stayed low and did not keep pace with the rising price of bread. Many could not afford enough food to eat
What effect did harvest failures have on the poor?
Bad weather in 1586, 1595, 1596 and 1597 led to bad harvests and food shortages. Price of food increased and people could afford even less food to eat. Many starved
What effect did a downturn in cloth demand have on the poor?
As Britain began to trade with more countries, there was a wider variety of materials available to make fabrics. A decrease in the demand for English wooden cloth led to unemployment and vagrancy.
What effect did the plague have on the poor?
Frequent outbreaks of the plague led to more deaths and increased short term poverty, as the sick could not work
Who were the vagrant poor?
Poor people who could travel to find food and work. They were homeless
Who were the settled poor?
The settled poor were those who could not travel (women with children and the elderly). They stayed in one place and their problems increased during times of famine as it became hard to find food
How did the Government perceive the vagrant poor?
They classed them as vagabonds and saw them as dangerous. They thought that they might beg or steal to get money
How were vagabonds treated?
A law passed in 1572 meant that vagabonds could be burnt through the ear with a hot iron and sent away. They could be hanged for repeated offences.
Where vagabonds allowed to stay in people’s homes with them?
No. A law passed in 1589 made it illegal to shelter vagrants
What was the Government’s attitude towards the settled poor?
The settled poor were seen as a local problem and should therefore be looked after by local people
What measures were taken to tackle poverty in York, 1588?
- The gentry and middling sort had to pay a poor rate (a local tax) to provide needs for the poor.
- Viewers were appointed to classify each poor person into 3 categories (impotent poor, able-bodied poor and vagabonds)
- Vagabonds were punished, the impotent poor were given a small amount of money each day and the able-bodied were given wool to spin at home.
Who were classed as vagabonds?
Vagabonds were people who could work but chose to beg and steal instead
Who were the able-bodied poor?
The able-bodied poor were people who wanted to work but were unable to find jobs
