The Poor

Question 1

Religious reasons for poverty?

Answer 1

The reformation left church employs without work

Closure of monasteries

Question 2

Agriculture and poverty?

Answer 2

Bad harvests between 1594-1598
Led to starvation 
Inflation- increased food prices
Enclosure- landlords keeping their sheep on land rather then grow crops
Not enough jobs

Question 3

Population increase and poverty?

Answer 3

Population went from 2.8 million to 4 million

Question 4

Attitudes towards the poor?

Answer 4

Many believed they should help
Almshouses were established
Many nobles believed they were better then the poor

Question 5

Who were the undeserving poor?

Answer 5

Beggars who had no interest in honest work

A book published to label all poor as lazy and criminals was published in 1567

Question 6

What did the idle poor do?

Answer 6

Clapper dudgeon wild cut him self and tie dirty bandages around the wounds to gain sympathy

Question 7

Early attempts to deal with poverty

Answer 7

From 1495
Beggars were punished
They were whipped

Question 8

Poor law?

Answer 8

Passed in 1601
Stated that wealthy should pay tax
Poor people should be given work

Many people believe it didn’t really make a difference

Question 9

What were the 3 groups the poor were spilt into?

Answer 9

The helpless poor- sick or old
The able bodied poor- fit enough to work
The idle poor- punished and sent to house of correction