Essay Example on The Poor Law

English Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 was the foundation of the American colonial welfare system. It was in response to population growth, rural immigration, and industrialization that was poor during the industrial revolution. The legislation made it clear about the categories of the poor. Prior to the Elizabethan Poor Laws much of the treatment towards the poor focused on punishment. Those who are healthy and not working are lazy and despised. In 1953, a law passed in which the Justice of the Peace could levy taxes to assist the poor. The classification of the poor was as follows, the able-bodied poor who could not work, the capable who could work and the poor with children who could not work.

First, impotent, poor, those who could not work, relief came in the form of an almshouse or poor house depending on circumstances. Second able-bodied poor, parishes would provide the means for them to work in a place provided by the parish, (workhouse). Third, the idlers and the poor were punished by the parish police, including imprisonment. Fourth, poor children would become apprentices.

Moreover, unworthy poor was a name given to those who were able to work but chose not to. Their condition attributed to laziness, or some other personality defect. The treatment was severe, and in extreme cases some people put to death. Some examples are loitering, punished by whipping, cutting off the right ear or even death. 

Although my punishment was not as severe as those during Elizabethan era, I remembered my experiences with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. I did not know much about the system until I became someone who needed the services they provided. Drug addiction robbed me of my ability to be a productive member of society. I needed cash assistance, food stamps and medical assistance. I was no longer able to take care of my children. CYS granted my parent's guardianship, and I had to pay for child support. Unable to work, CYS imprisoned me for non-payment. 

Welfare has often been a topic of discussion for as long as it has existed. There has been recent controversy after the welfare reform bill with laws that determine what recipients can spend money on and laws requiring drug testing of welfare recipients. This issue reminds me of poor people who are not worthy assuming that all welfare recipients are incapable of making decisions and addicted to drugs. 

It seems as if stigma of an individual has played a role in the Elizabethan area and today. Societies tend to look down on those that have difficulty navigating through life and assume that their lives cannot improve. Many have disabilities, health issues and addictions that have slowed their progression in life. Shouldn’t all humans be treated equally and not considered worthy or unworthy of assistance?