Old Scottish Poor Law
The Old Scottish Poor Law was the Poor Law system of Scotland between 1574 and 1845.[1]
Origins
Population growth and economic dislocation from the second half of the sixteenth century led to a growing problem of vagrancy. The government reacted with three major pieces of legislation in 1575, 1579 and 1592. The kirk became a major element of the system of poor relief and justices of the peace were given responsibility for dealing with the issue. The 1575 act, enabled through a Convention of the Estates, was modelled on the
Later development
Most subsequent legislation built on the principles of provision for the local deserving poor and punishment of mobile and undeserving "sturdie beggars". The most important later act was that of 1649, which declared that local heritors were to be assessed by kirk session to provide the financial resources for local relief, rather than relying on voluntary contributions.[5] The system was largely able to cope with the general level of poverty and minor crises, helping the old and infirm to survive and provide life support in periods of downturn at relatively low cost, but was overwhelmed in the major subsistence crisis of the 1690s.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ISBN 0748602763, pp. 166-8.
- ISBN 074860233X, p. 143.
- ISBN 0748613447.
- ISBN 0415278805, p. 96.
- ISBN 074860233X, pp. 127 and 145.