Changing Provision for Poor Relief (Edexcel A-Level History): Revision Notes
Changing Provision for Poor Relief
This revision note examines how Tudor governments attempted to address poverty through legislation between 1509 and 1588, showing a gradual shift from harsh punishment of the poor towards more supportive measures.
Early attempts at poor relief: the 1531 Vagabonds Act
The 1531 Vagabonds Act (also known as a Poor Law) was an early attempt to distinguish between different types of poor people and provide some basic relief. However, it maintained harsh attitudes towards those considered able to work.
This Act marked the beginning of Tudor governments' attempts to create a systematic approach to poverty, though it would take several decades before truly supportive measures were developed.
The harsh approach: the 1547 Vagrancy Act
In 1547, the government passed the most severe legislation of the entire Tudor period. This Act reflected the growing social and economic tensions of the time, particularly fears about disorder and crime associated with poverty.
Definition of a vagrant
Under the 1547 Vagrancy Act, a vagrant was defined as any able-bodied person who had been without a master or employment for three days. This strict definition meant that many unemployed people could be classified as vagrants, even if they were genuinely seeking work.
Brutal punishments under the 1547 Act
The punishments established by this Act were extraordinarily harsh and reveal the extreme fear Tudor governments had of vagrants and social disorder:
- First offence: The vagrant would have the letter 'V' branded onto their chest and would be forced to work as a slave for two years for the person who had reported them to the authorities
- Second offence: The vagrant would have the letter 'S' branded onto their face and would be enslaved for life
- Third offence: Execution as a felon
Provision for the impotent poor
The Act did make some provision for the impotent poor (those unable to work due to age, illness or disability). These individuals were to be sent back to the parish where they were born, where they would be cared for in a house for the disabled poor. This provision was to be funded through donations collected in church.
Why the 1547 Act failed
The Vagrancy Act proved impossible to enforce because it was so brutal. Local authorities refused to implement such harsh punishments, and the Act was repealed in 1550—just three years after it was passed. This demonstrated that there were limits to how harshly the government could treat the poor, even in Tudor England.
The failure of the 1547 Act was significant because it showed that even in Tudor England, there was a threshold beyond which authorities would not go in punishing the poor. This practical limitation would influence future legislation towards more moderate approaches.
The 1552 Poor Law: a new approach
When the 1547 Act was replaced in 1552, a new Poor Law took a slightly different approach:
- The impotent poor were to be registered for the first time, creating an official record of those unable to work
- Parish priests and bishops were required to put more pressure on parishioners who were reluctant to make voluntary contributions to alms (charitable donations for the poor)
- This marked a move towards greater organisation and record-keeping in poor relief
Timeline of parliamentary acts for poor relief
| Year | Act |
|---|---|
| 1531 | The Vagabonds Act (Poor Law) |
| 1547 | The Vagrancy Act |
| 1552 | Poor Law Act |
| 1563 | Act for the Relief of the Poor; The Statute of Artificers |
| 1572 | Poor Law Act |
| 1576 | Poor Law Act |
Changing attitudes under Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
Under Elizabeth I's reign, there was a significant shift in attitudes towards poverty and the provision of poor relief. The government began to move away from simply punishing the poor towards actually supporting them.
Funding poor relief: using recusancy fines
Parish funds for poor relief received a substantial boost from an unexpected source. Under the Act of Uniformity, Catholics who refused to attend Protestant church services (known as recusants) had to pay a fine of 12 pence per week. This money was directed towards parish poor relief, providing a more stable source of funding.
The use of recusancy fines for poor relief demonstrates how religious policy and social welfare became interconnected during Elizabeth I's reign. This created a more reliable funding stream than relying solely on voluntary charitable donations.
The 1563 Act for the Relief of the Poor
This Act represented an important step towards making contributions to poor relief almost compulsory:
- Special collectors of alms were to be appointed in each parish
- These collectors were instructed to "gently ask and demand" of every man and woman what they "of their charity will be contented to give weekly" towards the relief of the poor
- Refusal to contribute could lead to imprisonment
- However, contributors could still choose how much they gave, so it was not fully compulsory
This Act showed the government attempting to ensure more reliable funding for the poor whilst still maintaining the appearance of voluntary charity.
The Statute of Artificers (1563)
This Act attempted to address some of the problems caused by vagrancy by regulating employment:
- All males between the ages of 12 and 60 who were below the rank of gentleman were required to seek work
- Workers were not permitted to leave their employment without permission
- All unmarried people under the age of 30 had to serve any employer at times of harvest
- These workers were also to be trained in a craft, providing them with skills for future employment
The Statute of Artificers recognised that forcing people into work and providing them with training might reduce vagrancy more effectively than harsh punishment alone. This represented a more pragmatic approach to addressing poverty.
The 1572 Poor Law: recognising the problem of unemployment
The 1572 Poor Law marked a crucial turning point in government attitudes towards the able-bodied poor:
Continued harsh punishments
Punishments for unlicensed beggars remained severe:
- Boring a hole through the right ear with a hot instrument
- Whipping for those under 14 years of age
It also became harder to obtain a licence to beg, as it now required the signatures of two Justices of the Peace (JPs). For someone of low social status, gaining access to two JPs would have been extremely difficult.
A significant recognition
Crucial Turning Point in Tudor Poor Relief
For the first time, the government officially recognised that there was not enough work available for the able-bodied poor. This was a major admission that poverty was not simply caused by laziness, but by genuine economic problems beyond the control of individuals.
This recognition fundamentally changed how the government approached poor relief, moving from purely punitive measures towards actually providing support.
Houses of correction
The 1572 Act encouraged parishes with extra poor-relief funds to build houses of correction. These institutions aimed to 'correct' the behaviour of vagrants and beggars whilst also providing them with work.
The 1576 Poor Law: expanding houses of correction
A second Poor Law in 1576 went further:
- It ordered that there should be one house of correction per county, ensuring more widespread provision
- Supplies of wool, flax and iron should be stockpiled for the poor to work on
- This provided the poor with productive work whilst also contributing to the local economy
The situation by 1588: significant progress
Key Changes in Poor Relief by 1588:
Economic stability
The 1570s and 1580s were a period of relative economic stability, with few bad harvests. This meant the government did not need to pass further poor relief laws during this time. However, the social and economic crisis of the 1590s would later bring about further significant changes.
A shift from punishment to support
Although vagrants and beggars were still forced into houses of correction that aimed to modify their behaviour, the Tudor government had moved considerably away from simply punishing the poor for laziness and towards actually supporting them.
Parish responsibility
There was an increased expectation, enforced by parliamentary law, that local parishes would provide for their poor. This provision was to come from contributions from local parishioners, which were now almost compulsory rather than entirely voluntary.
Influence of local initiatives
This shift towards more supportive poor relief was influenced by the development of voluntary and local initiatives, especially in larger towns. These local schemes often served as models for national legislation.
Understanding the 1572 Poor Law through a primary source
Primary Source Analysis: The 1572 Poor Law
The following extract from the 1572 Poor Law illustrates both the continued harshness towards able-bodied vagrants and the growing recognition of the need to support the impotent poor:
Where all the parts of the realm of England and Wales be presently with rogues, vagabonds and sturdy beggars exceedingly pestered, by means whereof daily happeneth in the same realm horrible murders, thefts and other great outrages...
This opening shows the government's continued fear of vagrants and their association with crime and disorder.
That all persons above the age of fourteen years, being rogues, vagabonds or sturdy beggars, shall upon their apprehension be brought before one of the justices of the peace or mayor or chief officer of cities... Immediately he or she shall be grievously whipped and burnt through the grissle of the right ear with a hot iron of the compass of an inch about.
This section demonstrates the brutal punishments that still applied to those classified as able-bodied vagrants.
However, the Act also stated:
And forasmuch as charity would that poor, aged and impotent persons should as necessarily be provided for, it is enacted that the justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs and other officers make diligent search and inquiry of all aged poor, impotent and decayed persons... [they shall] also number [count] all the said poor people; and that done, they shall assess all the inhabitants dwelling within the said limits [of the parish or town] able to further this charitable work... to such weekly charge as they and every one of them shall weekly contribute to the relief of the said poor people.
This section shows the government attempting to ensure systematic care for the impotent poor through an organised counting system and regular financial contributions from parishioners.
And if any person being able to further this charitable work will obstinately refuse to give towards the relief of the said poor people, the said obstinate person shall be brought before two justices of the peace and abide such order therein as the said justices shall appoint.
This final section reveals that contributions, whilst still described as 'charitable', were effectively compulsory, as refusal could lead to punishment by JPs.
Exam tips
Approaching Questions on Poor Relief:
For 20-mark questions (explanation of change):
- Clearly explain what changed between different time periods
- Use specific Acts and their dates as evidence
- Explain why changes occurred (e.g., the 1547 Act was too harsh to enforce)
- Show the progression from punishment to support
- Consider both continuity (harsh punishments continued) and change (recognition of unemployment)
For 30-mark questions (extent of change):
- Make a clear judgement about how much changed
- Consider what stayed the same (harsh attitudes to able-bodied vagrants)
- Weigh up significant changes (parish responsibility, houses of correction, almost compulsory contributions)
- Reach a balanced conclusion supported by specific evidence
Common pitfalls to avoid:
- Don't assume poor relief was entirely harsh or entirely supportive—it was both
- Don't forget to distinguish between the impotent poor and able-bodied poor
- Don't ignore the practical difficulties of enforcing legislation (e.g., the 1547 Act)
- Don't overlook the importance of local and parish-level provision
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The 1547 Vagrancy Act was the harshest legislation of the period but proved impossible to enforce and was repealed in 1550
- There was a gradual shift from punishment towards support for the poor between 1547 and 1588, though harsh punishments for vagrants continued
- The government increasingly recognised that poverty was caused by lack of work, not just laziness, particularly in the 1572 Poor Law
- Parish-based poor relief became increasingly important, funded by almost compulsory contributions from parishioners
- Houses of correction were established to provide work for the poor whilst also attempting to modify their behaviour
- By 1588, there was a clear system of parish responsibility for the poor, influenced by local and voluntary initiatives in larger towns