Starter quiz
- Which of the following helped the most with the worst problems that the poor faced during the early Tudor period?
- monasteries ✓
- the rich
- the government
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- Travelling poor people were known as ______.
- 'vagabonds' ✓
- Which Tudor king introduced the death penalty for a second offence of begging?
- Henry VII
- Henry VIII
- Edward VI ✓
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- What was the intent of the 1551 Poor Act passed by Edward VI?
- instructed every parish to collect money from the rich to be given to the poor ✓
- people caught begging were sold into slavery for two years
- the impotent poor could apply for licences to beg in certain areas of a town
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- Which groups of people had to attend houses of correction following an act passed by Elizabeth I in 1575?
- the idle ✓
- the able-bodied poor ✓
- the impotent poor
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- Match the name of the act introduced by Elizabeth I with its action.
- 1572 Vagabonds Act⇔punished beggars by burning a hole through their ear ✓
- 1563 Act for the Relief of the Poor⇔fined any rich person who did not help the poor in their parish ✓
- 1601 Poor Relief Act⇔divided the poor into three categories ✓
Exit quiz
- A person who has a strong and healthy body is ______.
- 'able-bodied' ✓
- ______ means avoiding work or being lazy.
- 'Idle' ✓
- What happened to the impotent poor under the 1601 Poor Law?
- They were provided with food and housing. ✓
- Orphaned children could become apprentices to craftsmen. ✓
- They were sent to a house of correction.
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- What punishment was given to the idle poor under the 1601 Poor Law?
- They would be whipped. ✓
- They were sent to a house of correction. ✓
- They were forced to work. ✓
- They received the death penalty.
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- Why was there a great deal of variety in how the 1601 Poor Law worked?
- Some people felt that it wasn't needed as charity was doing a good job.
- The law had to be organised at a parish level and there were 15000 parishes. ✓
- Interpretations of who fit into each category differed from place to place. ✓
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- How long did the 1601 Poor Law last for until it was changed?
- roughly 230 years
- roughly 130 years
- roughly 30 years
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The 1601 Poor Law divided the poor into three distinct categories based upon their ability and willingness to work.
- These categories were dealt with differently, either by giving them aid, work or punishment.
- The 1601 Poor Law had mixed results; however, it remained a law for more than 230 years before being revised.
Common misconception
Laws are regularly scrutinised and updated by the government.
Many laws remain unchanged and in place for an exceedingly long time. Sometimes new laws are created which make the old ones redundant, but other times there is no need to replace the existing law if it is still relevant.
Keywords
Impotent - impotent means helpless or powerless or unable to take effective action
Idle - idle means avoiding work or being lazy
Able-bodied - a person who has a strong and healthy body is able-bodied
Parish - a parish is a small administrative district that has its own church and priest
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