Section B Poverty

Question 1

Thesis

Answer 1

although the British economy saw improvements and expansion over the century, poverty nevertheless significantly increased. Poverty was linked to other social and economic problems of the period such as inflation, migration and vagrancy which also increased.

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

population growth & inflation; economic changes; poor legislation.

Question 3

results of rapid population growth

Answer 3

Rapid population growth 1520-1620 resulted in inflation and price rises (up to 800%). Wages did not rise at the same rate (300%), and there was more competition for work. Agricultural work was often seasonal for only six months of the year

Question 4

effects of economic improvement on poverty

Answer 4

Economic improvements such as enclosures and urban development created more poverty by making it harder to find waged work in the countryside and towns.

Question 5

result of migration

Answer 5

These pressures created migration from the countryside to towns where jobs were also scarce. 2/3 of the population of towns lived below the poverty line.

Question 6

Beggars and vagrants

Answer 6

Beggars and Vagrants increased in number, as most people were mainly young agricultural workers and many could not find work for the whole year. When combined with price rises through inflation people got poorer and became homeless. Most of these travelled around parishes looking for handouts. They were seen as a source of disorder and crime and often punished.

Question 7

Elizabethan Poor Law

Answer 7

The 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law was designed to tackle poverty was hardly changed during the century, in fact it was not replaced until 1834. It created parish based poor taxes which funded poor relief. It treated the symptoms and not the causes of poverty. Idle and deserving poor were distinguished, with severe punishments for the idle (able-bodied) poor although the lack of full-time work made it difficult to find jobs.

Question 8

Settlement Act

Answer 8

The 1662 Settlement Act was passed to limit movement of vagrants rather than tackle the causes of poverty.

Question 9

Poor relief 1614 - 1630s

Answer 9

The amount of poor relief increased from £40,000 p.a. in 1614 to £188,000 in 1630s which may reveal that poverty was increasing.

Question 10

the new Book of Orders

Answer 10

Charles I issued a new Book of Orders in 1629 and 1630, which were clear instructions for JPs, which may have increased poor relief payments by being more efficient.

Question 11

Poor relief 1650 - 1700

Answer 11

poor relief continued to increase after the civil war from £250,000 p.a. in 1650 to £500,000 p.a. by 1700, suggesting poverty was much greater.