The Elizabethan Poor Law

The Elizabethan Poor Law, established in 1601, was England’s system for providing aid to the poor. It mandated local parishes to care for those unable to support themselves, dividing assistance into two categories: outdoor relief (help given without others seeing) for those able to work but unable, and indoor relief (workhouses) for the truly destitute. The law aimed to reduce poverty, prevent vagrancy, and ensure community responsibility. Funding was primarily derived from local taxes, emphasizing local accountability. It laid the foundation for modern social welfare systems by formalizing poor relief and emphasizing community-based support.