Role of Charities

Charities and the Poor Laws in Tudor England

Over the Tudor dynasty we can see a gradual shift in attitudes towards paupers. In the 15th century, all poor were seen as a threat to society. By the 17th century, the State was beginning to assume responsibility for looking after the ‘deserving’ poor.

Charities

Charity had traditionally been the main source of support for the poor.
- People began to understand that paupers were not to blame for their own poverty.
- Charities and almshouses to assist the poor became more common.
But during this period, charity donations by the rich became insufficient (not enough) for dealing with the problem.

Poor Law, 1552

A new Poor Law was passed in 1552. Parishes had to raise money to look after the deserving poor (those too old, too young or too ill to work).

Poor Law, 1563

In 1563, Elizabeth I's government tried to reduce the number of roaming paupers. It passed the Statute of Artificers which intended to make apprentices stay for seven years.
The Poor Law was rudimentary and many people did not believe there was much of a difference between the impotent poor (those unable to work) and idle poor (those able to work).

Poor Law, 1572

The Poor Law in 1572 let local officials raise money from local people to help the poor.
- The ‘Act for setting the poor on work’ was passed in 1576, which made local authorities responsible for poverty in their local area.
Research was done to see which cities had best dealt with the problem of poverty. The Privy Council used this research to shape national laws.

Poor Law, 1601

In 1601, the Poor Law was the first law taxing the wealthy to pay for the care of the poor who could not work. This included:
- The helpless poor (sick and old).
- The able-bodied poor, who needed to work to get food.
- The idle poor, who were sent to the House of Correction.
The law had an effect in some areas, but was not enforced in other areas. Some historians argue that local authorities tried to force paupers away so they did not have to deal with them.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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