Attitudes to poverty (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Attitudes to poverty in Elizabethan England
During Elizabeth I's reign (1558-1603), English society's approach to dealing with poverty underwent significant transformation. The government's response evolved from traditional harsh punishments to more systematic and constructive solutions, reflecting changing economic and social conditions of the time.
Traditional views of the poor
Elizabethan society initially held quite rigid views about poverty, making clear distinctions between different types of poor people. This traditional mindset shaped early approaches to dealing with destitution.
The deserving poor versus the idle poor
Most Elizabethans believed there were two distinct categories of poor people. The deserving poor included elderly people and those with disabilities or serious illnesses who genuinely could not support themselves through work. Society generally accepted that these individuals deserved help and sympathy.
In contrast, the idle poor were viewed very differently. These were people who appeared physically capable of working but chose not to seek employment. Traditional attitudes suggested these individuals should face punishment rather than assistance, as their poverty was seen as a result of laziness or poor moral character.
This distinction between "deserving" and "idle" poor was fundamental to Elizabethan thinking and influenced all government policies throughout the period. It reflected the belief that moral character determined a person's circumstances.
Suspicion and harsh treatment
Many Elizabethans remained deeply suspicious of poor people, often viewing them as potential criminals or troublemakers. Vagrants and vagabonds - people who wandered from place to place without permanent homes or jobs - faced particularly severe treatment. Those caught begging could face brutal punishments including whipping, imprisonment, enslavement, or even execution for repeat offences.
The harsh treatment of vagrants reflected deep-seated fears about social order and the belief that poverty was linked to criminality and moral failing.
Why attitudes began to change
Several important factors during Elizabeth's reign gradually shifted how people thought about poverty, leading to more practical and less purely punitive approaches.
Fear of social disorder
Authorities became increasingly worried that widespread poverty could lead to riots, rebellions, and general social unrest. This concern for maintaining public order motivated them to develop more effective ways of managing the poor rather than simply punishing them.
Rising costs and visibility
The introduction of poor rates - local taxes collected to help support destitute people - made the cost of dealing with poverty much more visible to ordinary citizens. When people had to pay directly for poor relief, they became more interested in finding efficient solutions.
Poor rates were revolutionary because they made poverty everyone's financial responsibility, not just a moral concern. This economic pressure drove the search for more practical solutions.
Economic and social changes
Population growth and the practice of enclosure (converting common land for private farming) meant that more people became visibly poor and homeless in towns and cities. Economic difficulties, including problems with wool trade and poor harvests, forced even previously stable families into poverty. These changes helped people understand that poverty wasn't always the result of personal failings.
Government policies and legislation
The Elizabethan government introduced a series of increasingly sophisticated laws to address poverty more systematically.
The Statute of Artificers (1563)
This early legislation represented a progressive step in government thinking about unemployment. Rather than simply punishing people for being out of work, the law required local officials to provide the poor with wool and raw materials so they could make items to sell. Those who refused this opportunity for work could face imprisonment, but the law recognised that many people wanted to work if given the chance.
The Statute of Artificers (1563) was significant because it marked the first time government policy focused on providing work opportunities rather than just punishment.
The Vagabonds Act (1572)
This law took a notably harsh approach to dealing with vagrants and homeless people. Vagrants faced severe physical punishments - they could be whipped and have holes drilled through their ears as visible marks of shame. Repeat offenders faced imprisonment, and those caught three times could even face execution.
However, the Act also included more constructive elements. It established a national system of poor rates to provide financial support for those genuinely unable to work, and required local authorities to find employment opportunities for able-bodied poor people.
The Vagabonds Act of 1572 perfectly illustrates the dual nature of Elizabethan policy - combining harsh punishment with practical solutions, reflecting the ongoing tension between traditional attitudes and emerging pragmatism.
The Poor Relief Act (1576)
This legislation marked another step towards more constructive approaches. It required Justices of the Peace to provide poor people with materials and tools needed for work, enabling them to earn money rather than simply receiving charity. Those who refused to work were sent to special institutions called houses of correction.
The Elizabethan Poor Law (1601)
This comprehensive law represented the culmination of Elizabethan thinking about poverty. It created a standardised national system with three main approaches:
- Impotent poor (those unable to work due to age or disability) were housed in almshouses or poorhouses
- Able-bodied poor were required to work in houses of industry (workhouses) where they performed labour in exchange for food and shelter
- Pauper children became apprentices, learning trades that would enable them to support themselves as adults
The 1601 Poor Law established the principle that each local area was responsible for supporting its own poor people, funded through local taxation and administered by local officials. This system lasted for over 200 years.
Timeline of key legislation
- 1563: Statute of Artificers - required provision of work materials for the poor
- 1572: Vagabonds Act - harsh punishments but also national poor rate system
- 1576: Poor Relief Act - JPs must provide work opportunities and materials
- 1601: Elizabethan Poor Law - comprehensive national system of poor relief
Key Points to Remember:
- Elizabethan attitudes distinguished between the "deserving poor" (unable to work) and "idle poor" (unwilling to work)
- Fear of social disorder and rising costs motivated government action on poverty
- Legislation evolved from purely punitive measures to more constructive approaches providing work opportunities
- The 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law created a comprehensive national system that lasted for centuries
- Economic changes like enclosure and population growth made poverty more visible and widespread during this period