Class SystemS

During her reign (1558 to 1603) Queen Elizabeth I encouraged a strict social class system, with Monarch (i.e. her) at the top. Roughly speaking, there were four main classes: the Nobility, the Gentry, the Yeomanry, and the Poor/Peasantry.

A person's social class determined where they were allowed to live, work, and even what they could wear. It also determined their political rights. Anyone who dared to step outside of these social class rules, was punished severely.

The Nobility

Nobility referred to those people at the very top. The monarch granted noble titles such as ‘Duke’ or ‘Earl’, and these titles were passed down the male line. Therefore, to be a part of this class meant being born into a noble family.The rare exception to this was when a royal decree was granted to an individual who showed themselves worthy through an exceptional act in warfare, a high degree of economic success, or a major talent for and contribution to the Arts.

Nobles had certain political rights which were respected by the Queen/Monarch. Parliament could be used to ensure this, however, since the British Parliamentary system was still in its infancy, the protection of these rights generally fell to the handful of nobles who were chosen to advise the Queen.

The Gentry

The gentry class sat just below the nobles. This class included knights, squires, and rich landowners who were called gentlemen or gentlewomen. The key distinguishing feature of the gentry, was that they were wealthy enough to not have to use their hands for work, as a common working class person did. Accumulation of wealth or great success in the arts, literature, or science was an avenue into this class, but it was not easy and not a common occurrence.

The Yeomanry

The yeomanry were akin to today's "middle class". They usually owned sizable properties and lived in comfort (sometimes extravagance). Most of the people in this class were successful farmers, tradespeople, craftsmen, guards or lesser officials of some kind.

Merchants and Traders

The Elizabethan era was marked by economic stability. Consequently, there was a sharp rise in entrepreneurial endeavors by tradespeople, business owners, farmers and craftspersons. Many enterprising merchants benefited from the new trade routes in the East Indies and the Middle East, profiting greatly by catering to the growing demand for luxury imported goods, such as sugar, cloth and spices.

The Working Class & The Poor

The number of poor people in England grew substantially during the Elizabethan era, due to inflation and population increase. Parliament responded by introducing a series of laws commonly referred to as the Poor Laws. Among these laws were the Vagabonds Act (1572) and the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601).

These laws were the beginning of what we now know to be England's modern welfare state.

The Vagabonds Act made poor people the responsibility of local community, rather than the church (as it had traditionally been). Begging was outlawed, and a Justice of the Peace was appointed to each local Parish, and given authority to collect a tax that funded the cost of caring for the poor.

Outlawing the idle..

The Poor Laws were as much about punishing the idle as they were about supporting the needy.

Under the Vagabonds Act (1572), so-called "able-bodied" vagrants, vagabonds and beggars were seen as a threat to the good order of society, and were forced to either work or face harsh punishment. Repeated begging resulted in whippings, being bored through the ear, or being put to death.

IMAGE: Sixteenth-century woodcutting, shows a beggar being walked through the streets whilst being publicly whipped.

Different types of "poor"

The Elizabethan Poor Law (1601) classified poor people into categories, to make it easier for parishes to deal with them:

IMPOTENT POOR: Deemed unable to work. These people were usually sent to a poorhouse - referred to as an almshouse.
ABLE-BODIED POOR: Deemed able to work. Work was provided by the Parish, usually in one of the early workhouses.
IDLE POOR: Deemed able but resistant to work - i.e. "vagrants" and "beggars". These people were punished.
POOR CHILDREN: Children deemed able or destined for work. Often they were given apprenticeships.

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