Evolution of Poor Law in 1601 England
Poor Law of 1601
Imran Ahmad Sajid, PhD
Source: Walter Friedlander. (1968). Introduction to Social Welfare. pp.15-18
•
In 1600, it was realized that the
previous laws
were
haphazardly
made and they
needed codification*
and
unification#
.
•
In 1601,
Queen Elizabeth
, passed a law which was also
known a “
43 Elizabeth
”.
*Arrange something
#act of uniting
Known for
1.
Unification and Codification of preceding poor laws
2.
Community responsibility to support the needy
3.
Principles of Relatives / Family Responsibility
Classification of Poor
1. The able-bodied/Sturdy beggars
•
They were those called the
sturdy beggars
and were
forced
to work in the ‘
work houses
’ or house of correction.
•
Citizens
were
forbidden
to give them
alms
and
•
those who
arrived fresh
in a parish were
returned
to the
place where they had dwelt
last for an year
.
•
Any vagabond, who refused to work in the work house, was
put in a
stock
or in a
jail
.
2. The Impotent poor
•
They were those who were
unable to work-
the
old
,
infirm*
,
the
demented
, the
pregnant women
,
women with young
children
, the
deaf-mute
etc.
•
they were put in the ‘
alms houses
’ and were provided with
food, shelter and clothing.
•
Those
who could work within their capacities like
dish washing
,
washing clothes
etc , were put to such pity works.
•
Again,
if
the impotent poor
had a place to live
and that seemed
less expensive
than in the alms house, the overseers could
provide them
help in kinds
there as
out door relief
.
*not strong
•
Under this law, as was in the previous laws, the
poor law did not register a person
in need of
public assistance
if his
wife
/ her
husband
/
son
/
father
/
daughter/etc
. supported him/her and
they had to.
•
This was known a s “
family responsibility
” “ or
“
Relative’s Responsibility
” meant that relatives
have to assume the primary responsibility of
supporting own poor.
•
The
public relief
authority only aided a person
when
his
family
or relatives were
unable
to
support them.
3. Dependent Children
•
These were
1.
orphans
,
2.
foundlings
,
3.
children who had been
deserted
by their parents or
4.
whose parents were so poor that they could not support them.
•
These children were
given to some citizens
who were
willing to take them without any charge
.
•
In case such homes were not available, these children were
given to the
lowest bidder
.
•
Children of eight (8) years and older who could do some
domestic work, were
indentured
with
townsmen
.
•
Boys
were
taught the trade
of their master and had to
serve up to their
twenty fourth birth day
.
•
Girls
were brought up as
domestic servants
and remained
in indenture up till their
twenty first birth
day or
married
.
Administration of the Poor Laws
•
Role of the
Overseer of the poor
1.
Receive application of the poor person for relief
2.
To investigate his condition
3.
To decide whether he was eligible for relief
4.
To decide whether the applicant and his family should be
placed in “work house” or “alms house” , to be “sold out”
or should “receive aid in their own communities”
5.
Collect poor tax from the community
Comments
•
The new feature of the law was the establishment of the
liability to support grand parents in need
.
•
This law was based on
public sentiment
that the
government should do some thing for the help of the poor
at the time of economic, political and religious need.
•
The law confirmed the
responsibility of the parish
-
the
local community
to
finance their poor brethren
who were not supported by their
relatives
.
•
The parish was responsible for the maintenance of
those
destitute who were born
there or had lived
there for at least
three years
.
•
This question of residence or settlement right is
still considered while processing application for
benefits.
Conclusion
•
The poor law of 1601 set the
pattern of public relief under
governmental responsibility
for the UK for three hundred years.
•
It established the
principle
that the
local community
–the
parish—had to organize
poor relief
for its residents, provide
sustenance to the unemployed and children, and work to the
able bodied persons.
•
It still maintain many of the earlier features of repression and
disdain for the destitute, but it also accepts an obligation for
the aid of people who could not provide for themselves.
The Poor Law of 1601, also known as the 43 Elizabeth law, aimed to unify and codify existing poor laws in England. It established community responsibility for supporting the needy and emphasized the role of family in caring for their own. The law classified the poor into categories like able-bodied beggars, impotent poor, and dependent children, with provisions for workhouses and alms houses. Family members were expected to support their relatives before public assistance was provided.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Poor Law of 1601 Imran Ahmad Sajid, PhD Source: Walter Friedlander. (1968). Introduction to Social Welfare. pp.15-18
In 1600, it was realized that the previous laws were haphazardly made and they needed codification* and unification#. In 1601, Queen Elizabeth, passed a law which was also known a 43 Elizabeth . *Arrange something #act of uniting
Known for 1. Unification and Codification of preceding poor laws 2. Community responsibility to support the needy 3. Principles of Relatives / Family Responsibility
Classification of Poor 1. Able Bodies / Sturdy Beggars Workhouses 2. Impotent Poor/Beggars Alms Houses / Outdoor Relief Poor Indentured / Given to the lowest bidder 3. Dependent Children
1. The able-bodied/Sturdy beggars They were those called the sturdy beggars and were forced to work in the work houses or house of correction. Citizens were forbidden to give them alms and those who arrived fresh in a parish were returned to the place where they had dwelt last for an year. Any vagabond, who refused to work in the work house, was put in a stock or in a jail.
2. The Impotent poor They were those who were unable to work- the old, infirm*, the demented, the pregnant women, women with young children, the deaf-mute etc. they were put in the alms houses and were provided with food, shelter and clothing. Those who could work within their capacities like dish washing, washing clothes etc , were put to such pity works. Again, if the impotent poor had a place to live and that seemed less expensive than in the alms house, the overseers could provide them help in kinds there as out door relief. *not strong
Under this law, as was in the previous laws, the poor law did not register a person in need of public assistance if his wife/ her husband/ son/ father/ daughter/etc. supported him/her and they had to. This was known a s family responsibility or Relative s Responsibility meant that relatives have to assume the primary responsibility of supporting own poor. The public relief authority only aided a person when his family or relatives were unable to support them.
3. Dependent Children These were 1. orphans, 2. foundlings, 3. children who had been deserted by their parents or 4. whose parents were so poor that they could not support them. These children were given to some citizens who were willing to take them without any charge. In case such homes were not available, these children were given to the lowest bidder.
Children of eight (8) years and older who could do some domestic work, were indentured with townsmen. Boys were taught the trade of their master and had to serve up to their twenty fourth birth day. Girls were brought up as domestic servants and remained in indenture up till their twenty first birth day or married.
Administration of the Poor Laws Role of the Overseer of the poor 1. Receive application of the poor person for relief 2. To investigate his condition 3. To decide whether he was eligible for relief 4. To decide whether the applicant and his family should be placed in work house or alms house , to be sold out or should receive aid in their own communities 5. Collect poor tax from the community
Comments The new feature of the law was the establishment of the liability to support grand parents in need. This law was based on public sentiment that the government should do some thing for the help of the poor at the time of economic, political and religious need.
The law confirmed the responsibility of the parish- the local community to finance their poor brethren who were not supported by their relatives. The parish was responsible for the maintenance of those destitute who were born there or had lived there for at least three years. This question of residence or settlement right is still considered while processing application for benefits.
Conclusion The poor law of 1601 set the pattern of public relief under governmental responsibility for the UK for three hundred years. It established the principle that the local community the parish had to organize poor relief for its residents, provide sustenance to the unemployed and children, and work to the able bodied persons. It still maintain many of the earlier features of repression and disdain for the destitute, but it also accepts an obligation for the aid of people who could not provide for themselves.
