The impact of the Elizabethan Poor Law
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the Elizabethan Poor Law changed the lives of those affected by it.
Key learning points
- The 1601 Poor Law divided the poor into three distinct categories based upon their ability and willingness to work.
- These categories were dealt with differently, either by giving them aid, work or punishment.
- The 1601 Poor Law had mixed results; however, it remained a law for more than 230 years before being revised.
Keywords
Impotent - impotent means helpless or powerless or unable to take effective action
Idle - idle means avoiding work or being lazy
Able-bodied - a person who has a strong and healthy body is able-bodied
Parish - a parish is a small administrative district that has its own church and priest
Common misconception
Laws are regularly scrutinised and updated by the government.
Many laws remain unchanged and in place for an exceedingly long time. Sometimes new laws are created which make the old ones redundant, but other times there is no need to replace the existing law if it is still relevant.
Teacher tip
As a homework opportunity, ask students to research any local almshouses. They could look for when they were built, who built them and why, and who lived there.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following helped the most with the worst problems that the poor faced during the early Tudor period?
Q2.Travelling poor people were known as .
Q3.Which Tudor king introduced the death penalty for a second offence of begging?
Q4.What was the intent of the 1551 Poor Act passed by Edward VI?
Q5.Which groups of people had to attend houses of correction following an act passed by Elizabeth I in 1575?
Q6.Match the name of the act introduced by Elizabeth I with its action.
punished beggars by burning a hole through their ear
fined any rich person who did not help the poor in their parish
divided the poor into three categories
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A person who has a strong and healthy body is .
Q2. means avoiding work or being lazy.
Q3.What happened to the impotent poor under the 1601 Poor Law?
Q4.What punishment was given to the idle poor under the 1601 Poor Law?
Q5.Why was there a great deal of variety in how the 1601 Poor Law worked?
Q6.How long did the 1601 Poor Law last for until it was changed?
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The impact of the Elizabethan Poor Law, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The impact of the Elizabethan Poor Law, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Life in Tudor England: was there a 'Golden Age' for the poor? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.