Topic 2: Lifestyles of the Rich and the Poor

Question 1

What jobs did the rich have?

Answer 1

None

Question 2

What jobs did the poor have?

Answer 2

Long 12 hour working day with bread and ale for lunch

Question 3

What did the poor eat?

Answer 3

Vegetable stew; meat was too expensive

Question 4

What are the reasons poverty increased?

Answer 4

Rising population, rack renting, inflation, bad harvests

Question 5

What is rack renting?

Answer 5

Landlords increasing rent by a large amount quickly

Question 6

Why was vagrancy a threat?

Answer 6

Estimated 10,000 wandering and being a burden on society, spreading disease

Question 7

How did Elizabeth attempt to solve the problem of poverty?

Answer 7

Deserving and Undeserving Poor
Statute of Artificers 1563 - 7 year apprenticeship compulsory for all boys
Vagabonds act 1572 - Justices of the Peace kept register on poor and enforced poor tax
Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601 - work for the able bodied and children learn a trade