SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE IN TUDOR PERIOD

How much did the population grow from 1500 to 1603?

2 million in 1500 to 3.8 million in 1603

How did gentry grow during the Tudor period? (3)

Monastic land sold, Acts of Union allowed Welshmen a place, growth in parliament

How many people died in the 1536 Plauge?

200,000

What is poverty?

the inability to afford the basics of life on a regular basis

What is vagrancy?

being jobless and homeless on the move in search of a way to make a living

How did the government feel about poverty and vagrancy?

worried because they were afraid they were more inclined to join uprisings as they were outside of the regular structure of society

How did the ordinary people feel about poverty and vagrancy? (2)

panicked by the number of people on the streets, scared for the criminal behaviour

How did trade increase?

more jobs, more trading companies as London took over Antwerp as the financial capital of Europe , 80% exports on cloth

How was there a growth in industry? - Woollen cloth (3)

Value of English textiles rose five to six times in real terms, employed thousands of part time workers, kept idle hands busy

How wasn't there a growth in industry? Woollen cloth (3)

There was more mining, iron smelting and ship building

What was the Navigation Act?

helped improve imports and increase naval ships during Henry VII's reign but also continued during Elizabeth's reign as it saw the British empire begin

How is growth in industry less significant than growth in trade?

the growth in industry only occurred due to the growth in trade

What act did Henry VII put in place to help with poverty and vagrancy?

1495 Beggars and Vagabonds Act

What did the 1495 Beggars and Vagabonds Act do?

First attempts to deal with the problems of poverty and vagrancy - 'Vagabonds, idle and suspected persons shall be set in the stocks for three days and out of Town. Every beggar suitable to work shall resort to the Hundred where he last dwelled, is best known, or was born and there remain upon plain aforesaid'

What 3 acts did Henry VIII put into place to deal with poverty and vagrancy?

1531 Vagabonds act, 1536 Act, 1535 Bill

What was the 1531 Vagabonds act?

distinguished between the impotent poor and the able-bodied poor- impotent poor can beg but vagrant poor must be whipped and sent 'home'

What was the 1536 Act?

a compromise that provided apprentices for sons of poor families - shows the gov taking steps towards helping the new generation

What was the 1535 Bill?

A bill made by Thomas Cromwell which showed a growing understanding in poverty and suggested a new form of tax - it was too ahead of its time but influenced acts that followed

What was Edward VI's 1547 Act on poverty and vagrancy?

Very harsh with 2 years servitude for able-bodied vagrants and later death by hanging - repealed in 1550 as it was too hard to enforce

What was Edward VI's 1552 Act?

local people had to contribute to a poor relief on a weekly basis (pressured by vicars) - act was too vague to be successful but recognised poor relief

What was Mary's 1555 Act?

allowed for begging in certain areas and rich parishes for instructed to help poor ones through either punishment or relief

Why did the government fail in enforcing anti-enclosure acts?

JP's were mainly the ones to enclose so they didn't enforce this

What was Elizabeth's 1563 The Statue of Artifacts

attempted to provide jobs for all - ignored how enclosures was actually the cause of unemployment in some areas as it made boys work there, did ease some poverty

What was the 1572 Whipping Act? How did this impact Middlesex?

purge on the poor - in Middlesex 44 were branded and 5 hanged in 1575

What did the Act for the Relief of the Poor do? (3)

defined the rate of overseers of the poor, tried and failed to prevent enclosures, used poor rate to provide apprenticeships

What was the 1601 Poor Act Law? (3)

Instructed families to take responsibility for older members, - Government had to pass some responsibilities to other counties as Elizabeth did not want to raise taxes, Girls from poorer families found work from local authorities and were released before 21 if they were to marry someone with a job

How was the 1601 Poor Act Law effective?

no other acts were passed in Elizabeth's reign

During Elizabeth's time what did the government do to help with poverty and vagrancy? (2+2)

Noticed debasement of coinage made prices rise - recalled coins and improved them

Dearth of grain - began storing them to avoid starvation

What was Urban Elizabethan England like? (3)

Specialised criminals such as the Abraham Man, fear of gypies, xenophobic ideas

What was Rural Elizabethan England like? (3)

Issue with enclosures, bad harvests but less criminal activity

How did East Anglia offer poor relief?(3)

Some poor given licence to beg, municipal hospitals and training schools, compulsory relief but not effectively collected/enforced

How did London offer poor relief? (3)

1533 and 1547 Poor Rate, monastic buildings being used for charity and hospitals for beggers

Why did so many people move to London?

Some believed the streets were paved with gold

How did Norwhich offer poor relief? (3)

Permeant grain stores, regular funds put into poor relief, raised £500 per anum for the poor during the 1570s

How many beggers were in Norwhich

51

Why was Norwhich the most successful?

The funds for their poor rate were properly collected

How did Merchants help? (2)

More worried about too many homeless people who would disrupt their economy. Set up charitable trusts, schools and invested into small businesses

How did rich landowners and their wives help?

inclined to be philanthropists and use their wealth to help the people. Lady Berkley left money for a feast for over 1000 peasants after her death

How did clergymen help?

vicars were poor, bishops were supposed to give 10% but there is no evidence of this

How did Robert Dudley help?

the Earl of Leicester - gave substantial sums to the poor, set up hospitals, alms houses

Were individuals successful in helping the poor?

Able to only help on a smaller scale of their own region - no long term impact