How Did Henry Viii Approach To Poverty

Approaches to poverty mean the different ways the country tried to combat and “cleanse” the land from the poor. In 1536, England was a country undergoing huge changes. The monasteries were being dissolved, and England faced a big rebellion, the Pilgrimage of Grace, from Northerners whom were angry about the religious changes. Attitudes to poverty were not at all sympathetic; many hated and distrusted those unemployed whom travelled around (vagabonds). This distrust was not helped by those who pretended to be disabled, who were called “cranks”. This essay will look at the different acts that were put in place and see if the approaches changed significantly in the years 1536-76.
A major impact on the increase of poverty were the closure of the monasteries from 1536-39, an act motivated by the own personal matters of Henry VIII. Monasteries had …show more content…
In some places where the monastery was the centre of life, the community collapsed. Land the monasteries had been on was sold off, making more profit for Henry. Because of this, sheep farming increased, which in turn produced enormous profits for landowners. This was a newer industry, but one that required fewer workers and therefore added to the unemployment problem England was already facing. It can be seen that Henry, in his reign, was not focused on the problem of poverty. It could be argued that his approach was harsh, in that both he and the government introduced harsh punishments like whipping and branding to deter people from becoming beggars. Despite this, Henry did introduce the first “Poor Law act”, in 1535. This act stated it was the responsibility for counties, districts and parishes to administer (but not fund) relief for the poor. It also stated that relief was to be collected from voluntary contributions and charities, and that the able-bodied poor should go to work. The children of the poor living in poverty who were between 5-13 were ordered to be apprentices. Though this was