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Elizabethan Rich vs Poor

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Elizabethan Rich vs Poor

Use the evidence on this sheet to compare wealth and poverty, then explain how poverty was understood and managed. The evidence summaries are modern reconstructions, not quotations from Elizabethan documents.

Evidence A: Two households

These modern summaries describe typical contrasts, not every household. Living standards varied by region, occupation and income. Some prosperous townspeople lived comfortably without being nobles; some rural families owned land.

Feature

Wealthy household

Poorer household

Home

A large manor or town house might have several rooms, glass windows, chimneys and furnishings. Stone, brick and timber were used, depending on region and wealth.

A labourer's cottage might be small, with few rooms and simple furnishings. Wattle and daub, timber, thatch or other locally available materials were common.

Clothing

More changes of clothing; costly fabrics such as silk or velvet and elaborate decoration could signal status. Sumptuary laws attempted to restrict some luxury dress by rank.

Often fewer garments, commonly made from wool or linen. Clothing was practical and mended; colour and quality depended on what a household could afford.

Food and warmth

A wealthy family could afford a wider range of food and fuel, and employ servants to prepare meals.

Many poorer families relied heavily on bread, pottage and locally available food. A central hearth provided heat and light, but could make a home smoky.

Evidence B: Why poverty increased

During the sixteenth century, population growth increased demand for food and work. Prices rose, and a poor harvest could make food harder to afford. Enclosure—turning some shared or open land into privately controlled fields or pasture—could reduce access to land for some rural people. These pressures did not affect everyone equally.

1.Give two differences between a wealthy household and a poorer household using Evidence A. Include one difference about the home or clothing and one about food or warmth.

2.A student says, “All poor Elizabethans wore dull brown clothes, and all rich Elizabethans wore bright colours.” Explain why this is too simple, using Evidence A.

3.Choose one pressure from Evidence B and explain how it could make life harder for a poor family.

Evidence C: The Elizabethan Poor Laws

Parish authorities had responsibilities for poor relief. The 1598 Poor Law measures, developed further in 1601, helped establish a system of local rates to support people judged unable to work, such as some older people and people who were ill or disabled. Authorities could require able-bodied people without work to labour. Vagrancy laws punished people who travelled begging without permission. Treatment varied between parishes, and support could be limited.

4.According to Evidence C, which statement best describes Elizabethan poor relief?

Parishes helped organise relief, including support for some people unable to work.
The government gave every poor person the same payment across the country.
Only wealthy landowners were expected to receive help.
The Poor Laws ended poverty in England.

5.Match each situation to the response described in Evidence C: (a) a person unable to work because of age or illness; (b) an able-bodied person without work; (c) a person travelling and begging without permission.

Unable to work because of age or illness
Able-bodied and without work
Travelling and begging without permission

Could be required to labour
Could be punished under vagrancy laws
May receive parish relief

6.What distinction did the Poor Laws make between people unable to work and able-bodied people without work? Give one example of a response to each group.

7.True or false: Evidence C says every parish treated poor people in exactly the same way.

TrueFalse

8.Why might local authorities have wanted to control vagrancy? Give one possible concern, and explain why this does not prove that every beggar was unwilling to work.

9.A wealthy landowner supports the Poor Laws because they organise relief and encourage able-bodied people to work. A poor labourer worries that relief is too limited and that the rules may punish people who cannot find work. Which person's view is better supported by Evidence C? Use one detail from the evidence and explain your judgement.

10.Complete this sentence: One pressure that could increase poverty was , which could .

11.Complete this sentence: The Poor Laws responded by , but one limitation was .