by Heather A. Fowler

Created on: September 11, 2011   Last Updated: September 12, 2011

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the amount of English citizens living in poverty increased dramatically. After the destruction of the Black Death and the effects of Henry the VIII’s reign, a number of complicated issues arose that caused and exacerbated this crisis.  A marked increase in population, the breakdown of the feudal system, poor harvests, the movement of massive populations to cities, the loss of monasteries and convents as sources of refuge and help for the poor, and the devaluation of money all contributed to the loss of land and living for millions of English citizens. Life became so desperate for some groups that crime became rampant in both rural and city areas.

When the danger of that violence touched the upper classes, the government finally acted. Over the course of the 16th Century, the English Parliament passed a number of ‘Poor Laws.’ These regulations were very progressive for their time, reflecting the first instance in history when care for the poor was made the official responsibility of the government, and the duty of more well off citizens to care for those less fortunate was regulated.

In the mid-1500s, Parliament began crafting the Poor Laws. In 1552, they initiated programs using local parishes to determine the breadth of the poverty problem, and had officials begin collecting alms from the congregation after Sunday services, the money from which was to be distributed to the “registered poor” in the parish. The information about these registrations and transactions was given to the government for assessment.

In 1563, the desperation of the poor had reached a breaking point. Crime had become commonplace in the cities and rural parishes, on country roads and city streets, to the extent that not even the most wealthy and well-protected felt safe. These conditions led to further action by the government in the form of the Act of the Elizabethan Poor 1563. Different classes of the poverty-stricken were created to determine what kind of assistance they should receive.

The 'Deserving Poor' included the sick, the elderly, and children. This class was given what was called 'Outdoor Relief,’ including money, clothes or food, as needed. The 'Deserving Unemployed' were those wanting to work but unable to find a job. They were given 'Indoor Relief' in the form of shelter in almshouses, orphanages and workhouses. Young people were found apprenticeships to prepare for a future job. The final category

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