Socio-Economic Problems

Increasing poverty and vagrancy due to inflation, illness, increase in population, war etc.

⅓-½ of the population during the 1520s lived in poverty or near poverty.

The poor included the impotent who were not able to work but could get some relief under the Poor Laws, as well as the able bodied vagrants. The vagrants were treated as criminals. Up to 70% of Elizabeth’s paupers were able bodied vagrants.

Unquestionably, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

Population growth meant that there were higher rents with lower wages.

As well as this, there were food shortages due to overcrowding of the towns and more children to feed. As well as this, adverse weather conditions did not help.

The price of food increased such as grain could amount to a third of a person’s income.

Due to a growth in population, there was more competition for jobs.

Inflation was also a problem due to the debasement of the coinage. This was particularly seen in Kett’s rebellion. Inflation had the largest impact on people. The supply of labour out stripped the demand for workers. Inflation was estimated to be at 400%

Land was enclosed meaning that often a person could be given bad land, or be charged higher rent. Smallholders could also be evicted from their land

Impact of the Reformation

From 1536-39 over 800 monasteries were dissolved. However, the idea that many of the monks and nuns became the needy has been dismissed. They were given pensions and found new employment. It can be said that the Dissolution although getting rid of aid for the poor brought many charities into the forefont. This resulted in a growing recognition that the poor should be looked after by the state

Acts

1495-Vagrancy Act. All poor were to be rounded up and put in the stocks. They could only beg in the district of their birth. This shows the ad hoc nature of the government’s response.

1531-Poor Act. This was brought about due to a trade slump in cloth. All beggars were to be whipped and sent back to their place of origin. Those giving unlicensed beggars help were to be fined. As a result, many of the able bodied poor had to break the law to survive. However, a distinction was made for the first between the different types of poor.

1547-Vagrancy Act. This was incredibly harsh and saw those whipped and branded with a V. They could be given to an informant as a slave for 2 years.

However, this was too extreme and was largely ignored by local authorities.

1552-Parisioners were encouraged to pay money during Church to the poor. Pressure was put on those who did not comply.

1572-This Act made giving aid compulsory. JPs were given more power and could assess the cost of relief for the poor. Houses of correction were also built.

1576-This Act sought to employ the able bodied poor. Recognition was given that actually many of the vagrants were genuinely seeking help.

However the government could not do anything to stop bad harvest, poverty due the Spanish War

Act for the Relief of the Poor 1598-This gave out apprenticeships to pauper children. It gave compulsory provision towards the poor.

How successfully were the problems of poverty and vagrancy dealt with?

SUCCESSFUL

UNSUCCESSFUL

Progression from punishing people to helping them-Change from the Vagrancy Act 1547 to 1598.

Dissolution of the Monasteries led to no relief for the poor as well as the Pilgrimage of Grace and Kett’s Rebellion.

Introduction of apprenticeships for young people

Vagrants were treated harshly due to the lack of understanding.

Establishing accomodation for those who were actually destitute.

Causes were not really understood

Harsh treatments could have acted as a deterrent.

Land enclosure enforced until 1598.

A distinction was made between the different types of poor.

The number of poor did not change

Making sure that each parish was responsible

Aid came from philanthropists rather than the government

The growth of the middle class.

This was brought about through the land available from the Dissolution. The Aristocracy also became less important because of the lack of war.

Up until 1550, trade was exclusively with Antwerp in cloth. However, after this, trade was extended worldwide. Relations with the Habsurgs deteriorated. The Far Eastern and American markets were soon opened up. This trade was needed due to bad harvests, encouraging employment etc.