The Poor

Question 1

Reasons for poverty

Answer 1

• agricultural failures
• economic problems
• population
• flu

Question 2

How did agricultural failures lead to poverty

Answer 2

• bad harvests = food shortages + starvation
• food shortages = inflation
• land enclosure - keep sheep not crops = jobless + homeless

Question 3

How did economic problems / Henry VIII lead to poverty

Answer 3

• Henry 8th reformation closed monasteries = monks, nuns jobless
  -> no one to care for sick + poor
• Henry 8th debased coins = damaged trades + jobs
  -> cloth trade collapsed
• Henry 8th limited nobles private armies
  -> soldiers jobless

Question 4

How did population increase poverty

Answer 4

• 2.8 mil -> 4 mil
• power to landlords -> rent increased
• competition for jobs

Question 5

How did the flu lead to poverty

Answer 5

-1556 flu outbreak killed 200,000 including farmers

Question 6

Two types of poor

Answer 6

Deserving - poor due to circumstances - wanted work but couldn’t find, sick, old
Undeserving - beggars + idle poor (don’t want to work)

Question 7

How did local projects help the poor

Answer 7

• almshouse (archbishop whitgift) - housing for old
• beggar licenses
• house of correction
• youth training scheme
• tax the rich
• idle poor - knitting, sewing
• unfortunate poor - food, care, support

Question 8

How did York try and help poor

Answer 8

Beggar licenses
House of correction - prison for those who refused to work

Question 9

How did Norwich try and help the poor

Answer 9

Split
- idle poor - knitting, sewing
- unfortunate poor - food, care, support

Tax the rich

Question 10

How did Ipswich try and help poor

Answer 10

Beggar license
Youth training scheme - children learn a trade
Hospital for old + sick

Question 11

When was the poor law passed

Answer 11

1601

Question 12

What did the government do to try and help poor

Answer 12

Poor law

Question 13

Explain poor law

Answer 13

• compulsory tax for the rich
• able- bodied poor given work
• refuse to work = house of correction / whipped
• local areas must provide indoor relief (workhouses) or outdoor relief (money, food)

Question 14

Why did nobles help the poor

Answer 14

Great chain of being
- Made them feel they were better than the poor
- It’s their duty to help those below them in society

Question 15

How effective were the poor laws

Answer 15

Pros
- first scheme in Europe
- begging decreased

Cons
- inconsistent - areas didn’t fulfill
- still punishment for begging
- poor sent from one area to another - unclear who belonged to
- didn’t end poverty

Question 16

What law was passed in 1531

Answer 16

Beggars would be whipped