The impact of the Elizabethan Poor Law

History

The problem of poverty in Tudor England

Growing population in Elizabethan England

Social life for the poor in Tudor England

Tudor attitudes to poverty and the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601)

Was there a ‘Golden Age’ for the poor in Elizabethan England?

In this unit, pupils studied the problem of poverty in the 16th century alongside attitudes and responses to this. In 'Post-war Britain: for whom did the United Kingdom become a ‘New Jerusalem'?', pupils will see how the idea of governmental responsibility for people's welfare became a critical aspect of attitudes towards poverty in the 20th century and led to very different types of responses.

In 'Local history: how similar were medieval lives in Norwich?', pupils studied inequalities in medieval society and the lives of the poor. In this unit, pupils will extend their understanding of the lives of the poor by considering different aspects of their lives, including the ways in which they were treated by others, in the early modern period.

In this unit, pupils assess the extent to which Elizabethan England represented a 'Golden Age' for the poor. They examine the causes of poverty in this period and learn about contemporary responses to this growing problem before evaluating whether things improved for this group.

Life in Tudor England: was there a 'Golden Age' for the poor?

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

A person who has a strong and healthy body is {{ }}.

{{  }} means avoiding work or being lazy.


They were provided with food and housing.

Orphaned children could become apprentices to craftsmen.

What happened to the impotent poor under the 1601 Poor Law? 

What punishment was given to the idle poor under the 1601 Poor Law? 

Some people felt that it wasn't needed as charity was doing a good job.

The law had to be organised at a parish level and there were 15000 parishes.

Interpretations of who fit into each category differed from place to place.

Why was there a great deal of variety in how the 1601 Poor Law worked? 

How long did the 1601 Poor Law last for until it was changed?

Which of the following helped the most with the worst problems that the poor faced during the early Tudor period? 

Travelling poor people were known as {{ }}.

Which Tudor king introduced the death penalty for a second offence of begging?

instructed every parish to collect money from the rich to be given to the poor

people caught begging were sold into slavery for two years 

the impotent poor could apply for licences to beg in certain areas of a town

What was the intent of the 1551 Poor Act passed by Edward VI?

Which groups of people had to attend houses of correction following an act passed by Elizabeth I in 1575?

punished beggars by burning a hole through their ear

fined any rich person who did not help the poor in their parish

Match the name of the act introduced by Elizabeth I with its action.

The impact of the Elizabethan Poor Law

Lesson outcome

Content guidance