The Increase In Vagabonds 1500's

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The Increase In Vagabonds 1500's

Causes

  • Changes in the Cloth Industry- A decline in exports caused the cloth trade to collapse and many jobs were lost.
  • Rising Population- A sharp rise in population caused more demand for food, clothes, housing and jobs.
  • Rising Inflation-Wages could not keep up with rising prices, especially food prices.
  • Costly Foreign Wars- Taxes were raised and value of coinage to full; the end of the war resulted in many unemployed soldiers.
  • Dissolution of the monasteries- This caused a rise in unemployment and took away the vital role of charity relief.
  • Rack Renting- A sharp increase in rents meant many tenant farmers were unable to pay higher rents and were evicted.

Effects

  • Vagabonds were seen to be idle and too lazy to find a job.
  • They were too prepared to turn to crime as a way of life.
  • By wandering from place to place they helped to spread disease,  especially the plague.
  • They increased the fear of rebellion, especially as many ex-soldiers were vagabonds.
  • The burden of looking after the poor was increasing, causing poor rates to rise and fuelling resentment from those having to pay for this relief.

Overall summary

Vagrancy occurred as there was a fall in the amount of jobs which were taking place. Therefore, vagabonds became more visual because they would wonder the street begging for money or faking illnesses. 

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