elizabethan

• Poverty


  Reduced a series of Poor Laws to try and tackle the problems of
• Government involvement in Poor Relief

  Became more involved
• As poverty levels rose, crime rates increased and there were food riots in some places
• The government feared the poor might pose a serious threat to law and order
• The main source of support for the poor was charity
• As the problem of poverty became so bad, charitable donations by individuals were no longer enough
• People began to see that society as a whole would have to take responsibility for helping the poor
• Categories of the poor

  • The Helpless Poor
  • The Deserving Poor
  • The Undeserving Poor
• Helpless Poor


  Those who were unable to support themselves, including the elderly, the sick, and people with disabilities
• Deserving Poor


  People who wanted to work, but weren't able to find a job in their home town or village
• Undeserving Poor


  Beggars, criminals and people who refused to work (also known as vagabonds) who let their homes and travelled around looking for work
• Poor Laws

  1. Gave help to the Helpless and Deserving Poor

  2. Treated the Undeserving Poor harshly
• The Poor Laws were based on the local policies that seemed to be most effective, such as those used in towns like London, Norwich, Ipswich and York
• Poor rates were used to provide hospitals and housing for people who were elderly or sick and people with disabilities
• Poor children were given apprenticeships which usually lasted at least seven years, and local authorities were expected to provide financial support for the deserving poor
• Poor people could be sent to prison if they refused to work
• Under the Poor Laws of the 1590s, the undeserving poor were to be publicly whipped and then forced to return to their home parish
• Repeat offenders among the undeserving poor could be sent to prison
• The undeserving poor were treated so harshly because they were seen as a threat to society, as many people believed they had encouraged the Northern Rebellion in 1569
• Despite the very high levels of poverty, Elizabeth's reign is often seen as a 'Golden Age'
• The growing wealth of the elite contributed to a flourishing in architecture, arts and education
• Gentry

  Became richer during Elizabeth's reign due to growth in farming practices and rising prices of agricultural products
• The enclosures meant that land was farmed more efficiently, and landowners were earning a lot more money from their land
• The growth of trade allowed some merchants to become very rich, and they often used their money to buy land and become part of the gentry
• Many members of the gentry and nobility improved their homes or built new ones, which is sometimes called the 'Great Rebuilding'
• New houses often had many large windows, which was a sign of prosperity as glass was very expensive
• Large landscaped gardens were also a popular way to display wealth
• The 'Great Rebuilding' improved living standards for the wealthy, as the new houses were much more comfortable with better heating and lighting
• Ways the elite spent their wealth

  • Elaborate decorations for their homes (portraits, miniatures, tapestries, embroidery)
  • Supporting the work of poets and playwrights
  • Providing education for their children
• More people could afford to give their children an education during Elizabeth's reign
• Most children received a basic education at home, learning things like the alphabet, the Catechism and simple work skills
• Wealthier children were often sent away from the family home, either to school or to train as apprentices in other households
• Poor and middle-class children usually stayed at home to work, but some became servants in other households or did apprenticeships
• In poorer families, life was often a struggle for both parents, who had to work hard to feed and clothe their children
• The affection between parents and children was demonstrated by the regular practice of giving a parental blessing
• Middle-class children stayed at home to work, but some were servants in other households or did an apprenticeship
• Parental blessing

  Every morning and evening, children would kneel before their parents, who would reach out and place their hands on them and bless them
• The Elizabethans tried to create loving families
• Sports were an important part of Court Life
• The Queen was skilled at hunting deer and other wild animals