Elizabeth I Poverty and Vagrancy

1563 Act

Made the collection of poor rate compulsory

Refusal to pay would result in imprisonment

Government was copying lead of big towns e.g Norwich

1563 Statute of Artificers

Unemployed males 12-60 were found jobs in agriculture

JPs were told to consider local wages and decide a fixed rate - some wages rose

The Great Elizabethan Poor Law

1598 and 1601

What were the 2 1598 acts

1. Act for Relief of the Poor

2. Act for Punishment of Rogues

Act for relief of the poor

Defined the role of overseers of the poor

Had to collect compulsory poor rate and use it to provide apprenticeships or working materials for those in bridewells

Had to provide outdoor relief for the impotent poor

Alms houses were built for the needy poor

The Act for Punishment of Rogues

The professional poor should be whipped, sent home, set to servitude or placed in a bridewell

Taught the basics of a trade

Serious reoffenders might be imprisoned or executed

1601 Act

Instructed families to take responsibility for older members - impossible to enforce

County treasurers were to organise pensions for wounded ex soldiers

Girls from poor families who had been found work could be released before 21 if they married a man with a job

How can the Great Elizabethan Poor Law be seen as successful

No other acts after it

Remained largely unchanged

However could be argues that people were less frightened by poverty as they got used to it