The Poor Laws and Government Action Flashcards

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  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

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3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

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  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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In Elizabethan England, what was a Poor Law?

A Poor Law was a rule made by Parliament to deal with poverty and beggars.

What was the main aim of the 1563 Statute of Artificers?

It tried to control wages and work, so fewer people would be jobless and poor.

What did the 1572 Vagabonds Act do?

It punished vagrants by whipping and burning their ear. It also let Justices of the Peace list the poor and collect money to help the 'deserving' poor.

What did the 1576 Poor Relief Act order Justices of the Peace to do?

It ordered them to find work for able-bodied poor and to set up houses of correction for people who refused to work.

Under the Poor Laws, what was a house of correction?

A house of correction was a prison where vagrants and idle poor did hard work as punishment.

What was the poor rate?

The poor rate was a local tax on land and property owners. It paid for help and work for the poor in each parish.

Who were the overseers of the poor under the Elizabethan Poor Laws?

Overseers of the poor were local men chosen in each parish. They collected the poor rate and organised relief, work and apprenticeships for the poor.

What did the 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law say each parish had to do?

It said each parish must collect a compulsory poor rate. Overseers had to give relief to those who could not work, find work for the able-bodied poor, and arrange apprenticeships for poor children.

How were the 'deserving' poor helped under the Elizabethan Poor Laws?

The 'deserving' poor were people who could not work, like the old or sick. They could get money, food or clothing from the parish, live in almshouses, or be found work or apprenticeships.

How were the 'undeserving' poor or vagrants treated under the Elizabethan Poor Laws?

The 'undeserving' poor or vagrants were seen as lazy or criminal. They could be whipped, branded, sent to a house of correction, made to return to their home parish, or even executed if they offended again.

Why was the 1601 Poor Law important?

The 1601 Poor Law created a clear, national system of poor relief based on each parish. This system stayed in place in England for over 200 years.

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