Poor Law

Historical Context Essay

Tim Marshall (University of East Anglia)
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The Old Poor Law

The English Poor Law was legislation designed to alleviate the worst distresses of poverty. The 1601 Act for the Reliefe of the Poore, passed in the reign of Elizabeth I, is generally accepted as the historic foundation of such policy. It decreed that assistance to the poor would be administered at parish level, the cost being met through the poor-rate. The 1601 legislation represents the State’s formal acceptance of a responsibility to support those unable for one reason or another to support themselves. “Poor relief” became the term for assistance to such people, in the form of bread, money or other help.

The English Poor Law was legislation designed to alleviate the worst distresses of poverty. The 1601

Act for the Reliefe of the Poore

, passed in the reign of…

2904 words

Citation: Marshall, Tim. "Poor Law". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 March 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=880, accessed 19 March 2024.]

880 Poor Law 2 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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