Question 1: When did Elizabeth I ascend to the throne?

Answer: 1558

Question 2: Which social class was most affected by poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer: Peasantry

Question 3: Name one common cause of poverty during this period.

Answer: Unemployment or Poor harvests

Question 4: Describe one way Elizabethan authorities attempted to address poverty.

Answer: The Poor Laws or the establishment of Poorhouses

Question 1: Source: A letter from a Poor Law official describing the plight of the unemployed. What is the purpose of this source?

Answer: To highlight the hardships faced by the poor and justify poor relief measures.

Question 2: Who is the intended audience of this source?

Answer: Government officials or policymakers

Question 3: Evaluate the reliability of this source. What are its strengths and limitations?

Answer: Strengths: firsthand account; Limitations: possible bias to justify policies.

Question 4: Quote from a secondary source describing the impact of the Poor Laws. How does this source help us understand attitudes towards poverty?

Answer: It shows that authorities viewed poverty as a social problem needing control and relief.

Question 1: Explain why poor harvests in the late 16th century increased poverty in Elizabethan England.

Answer: Poor harvests reduced food supply, leading to famine, increased unemployment, and higher poverty levels as people struggled to survive.

Question 2: Describe how Elizabethan attitudes towards the poor influenced government policies.

Answer: Attitudes that saw the poor as morally responsible for their condition led to policies like the Poor Laws, aiming to control and discipline the poor.

Question 3: Explain the significance of the 1601 Poor Law Act in the context of Elizabethan poverty.

Answer: It was significant because it established a system of local taxation to provide relief, marking a move towards more organized social welfare.

Question 1: To what extent did economic factors like poor harvests and inflation cause poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer: A balanced response discussing how economic factors such as poor harvests, inflation, and unemployment contributed significantly to poverty, with references to specific events and policies.

Question 2: How far do you agree that government policies effectively reduced poverty in Elizabethan England?

Answer: A balanced argument considering successes and limitations of policies like the Poor Laws, with evaluation of their long-term impact.