Year 8 - History
The impact of the Elizabethan Poor Law
Life in Tudor England: was there a 'Golden Age' for the poor?
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils assess the extent to which Elizabethan England represented a 'Golden Age' for the poor. They examine the causes of poverty in this period and learn about contemporary responses to this growing problem before evaluating whether things improved for this group.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how the Elizabethan Poor Law changed the lives of those affected by it.
Key Notes
- 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.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Laws are regularly scrutinised and updated by the government.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
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.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'impotent'
impotent means helpless or powerless or unable to take effective action.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Laws are regularly scrutinised and updated by the government. Correction: 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.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Growing population in Elizabethan England Study Guide
- Social life for the poor in Tudor England Study Guide
- The problem of poverty in Tudor England Study Guide
- Tudor attitudes to poverty and the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601) Study Guide
- Was there a 'Golden Age' for the poor in Elizabethan England? Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 8 History guide library.