Poor Act 1562 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Citation | 5 Eliz. 1. c. 3 |
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| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Vagabonds Act 1572 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Poor Act 1562 was an important law in England. It was also known as the 1563 Act for the Relief of the Poor. This law was passed when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. It was part of a group of laws called the Tudor Poor Laws. These laws aimed to help people who were poor or had no home.
Helping the Poor in Tudor England
During the time of the Tudors, many people struggled. There was no welfare system like we have today. So, the government started making laws to help the poor. These laws are known as the Tudor Poor Laws. They tried to make sure that everyone had some support.
What the Act Did
The Poor Act of 1562 built on an earlier law from 1555. It made new rules about helping the poor. Before this act, people were asked to give money to help those in need. But some people refused to help.
This new law changed things. If someone refused to give money, a church leader (a bishop) would talk to them. The bishop would try to convince them to contribute. If they still said no, a local official called a justice of the peace could step in. This official could then order them to pay a fine. This fine would go towards helping the poor in their area.
The act made it clearer that everyone had a duty to help. It was an early step towards a more organized system. This system aimed to support the poorest people in society.
