4.2.3

Enclosure

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Enclosure

Enclosure was met with hostility. It was the cause of several uprisings in Tudor England.

Illustrative background for EnclosureIllustrative background for Enclosure ?? "content

Enclosure

  • This meant that agricultural land which was once common (available to any farmer) was now exclusively owned.
  • Farmers could work on a larger scale and try new farming techniques. This led to an increase in production and greater profitability.
  • But enclosure meant many poor farmers lost their land and livelihood and were forced to move elsewhere.
Illustrative background for State efforts to prevent enclosureIllustrative background for State efforts to prevent enclosure ?? "content

State efforts to prevent enclosure

  • The state was anxious to prevent enclosure.
  • The Muddled Acts were passed in 1489 and 1515 to prevent enclosure.
  • Cromwell passed an act in 1534 designed to limit how many sheep an individual could own.
  • But it was very difficult to stop enclosure.
Illustrative background for Uprisings against enclosureIllustrative background for Uprisings against enclosure ?? "content

Uprisings against enclosure

  • There were disturbances over enclosure.
    • e.g. Nottingham 1512, Gloucester 1513, London 1514
  • The Pontefract articles from the Pilgrimage of Grace and the Mousehold articles from Kett’s rebellion both highlight that enclosure was a concern.
  • Rebels believed that enclosure was a denial of common rights.

Jump to other topics

1Monarch & Government

2Religious Changes

3State Control & Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.2Court Politics

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

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