When was the first Poor Law?
When was the first Poor Law?
The earliest medieval Poor Law was the Ordinance of Labourers which was issued by King Edward III of England on 18 June 1349, and revised in 1350. The ordinance was issued in response to the 1348–1350 outbreak of the Black Death in England, when an estimated 30–40% of the population had died.
When were the old poor laws established?
1601
The Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601, popularly known as the Elizabethan Poor Law, “43rd Elizabeth” or the Old Poor Law was passed in 1601 and created a poor law system for England and Wales.
What is the Poor Law of 1815?
The poor laws gave the local government the power to raise taxes as needed and use the funds to build and maintain almshouses; to provide indoor relief (i.e., cash or sustenance) for the aged, handicapped and other worthy poor; and the tools and materials required to put the unemployed to work.
Who introduced the New Poor Law?
John Frederick Archbold
Outline of the New Poor Law Amendment Act
| Full title: | The New Poor Law Amendment Act, and the recent rules and orders of the Poor Law Commissioners. With a practical introduction, notes and forms. |
|---|---|
| Creator: | John Frederick Archbold |
| Usage terms | Public Domain |
| Held by | British Library |
| Shelfmark: | 1381.f.7. |
What did the new poor Laws do?
The 1834 reforms, collectively referred to as the New Poor Law, established large administrative units beholden to a central authority and attempted to abolish outdoor relief for the able-bodied. Central to the New Poor Law was the workhouse test.
What did the poor laws do?
The new Poor Law ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Children who entered the workhouse would receive some schooling. In return for this care, all workhouse paupers would have to work for several hours each day.
Who did the poor law affect?
In the 18th century those who were too ill, old, destitute, or who were orphaned children were put into a local ‘workhouse’ or ‘poorhouse’. Those able to work, but whose wages were too low to support their families, received ‘relief in aid of wages’ in the form of money, food and clothes.
