section 4 Flashcards
homes of the gentry
new country houses, sometimes over 50 rooms, glazed windows, finely decorated chimneys
gentry- feasts
hosted feasts where expensive food was carried by servants on silver platters
gentry- diet examples
exotic meats: swan, pheasant
fish- salmon, sweets- sugar and marzipan, expensive wine
how did the gentry make a living
did not work, earned all their money from renting out their lands
homes of the middling sort
around 10 rooms, 2 floors, windows and chimneys, less decorated than gentry
middling sort food
good diet of meat, fruit, bread and beer
couldn’t afford luxuries
how did the middling sort make a living
merchants, small business owners or independent farmers
homes of the labouring poor
small, one room, no chimney or glazed windows
food- labouring poor
staple diet was bread but relied on a good harvest
vegetables from the garden could be made into pottage
how did the labouring poor make a living
travelled around looking for seasonal work on farms
who chose the gentry’s partners
parents
womens role in society
patriarchal
wives to always obey their husbands
domestic violence disapproved of
sex outside marriage
forbidden by the church
Many got married immediately if they were pregnant
Divorce
difficult but people were encouraged to remarry after husband or wife died
same sex marriage
forbidden by the church
homosexual relationships must be kept secret
why were families usually quite small although women had many children
high rates of infant mortality
at what age did the gentry pay for their sons to go to school
7
what age did children leave their family homes
to do what?
12/13 to work as servants or apprentices
did people have strong bonds with extended family
no
who did people turn to if they needed help over their family
neighbours
what percentage of the population lived in poverty by the 1580s
about 30%
vagrants/ vagabonds
unemployed people who roamed from town to town looking for work
why were the gentry and middling sort worried about vagrancy
worried they would commit crime
spread the plague
population increase
during elizabeths reign
2.4 million to 4.1 million
increased demand for wheat- inflation
inflation
increased demand led to prices rising
price of wheat increased by 250%
people couldn’t afford bread (staple diet)
failed harvests
1595,1596, 1597
even less wheat
further inflation
sheep farming
english cloth was fashionable so sheep farming became very profitable
further inflation- wheat more expensive
what happened to vagrants caught the first time
whipped and burned through the ear with a hot iron
what happened to vagrants caught twice
hanged
did harsh punishments on vagrants help poverty
no it did not deal with the causes
when was the poor law
1601
how long did the 1601 poor law stay in place
over 200 years
poor law: the deserving poor
people who wanted to work but couldn’t- elderly, children, disabled
poor law: undeserving poor
people who could work but didn’t- criminals, lazy people
how were the deserving poor treated
poor relief (benefits)
materials for work
apprenticeships for young people
how were the undeserving poor treated
threatened with deterrents such as whipping and hand labour
how was the 1601 poor law paid for
a tax called the poor rate
how was the 1601 poor law managed
by JPs
