If there is no strong opposition, the government cannot maintain long-term security.
——Benjamin Disraeli
The "English Poor Laws" have a long-standing history in Britain. Even before the central government began uniformly collecting the Poor Relief Tax in the 16th century, local governments in Britain were already levying this tax according to their needs to provide relief to the poor.
The cause of this was the "enclosure movement" originating in the 16th century, which significantly altered the social structure of Britain. A large number of adult laborers, having lost their land, were forced to leave their homes and wander.
The enclosure movement also resulted in a particularly dire consequence: as many farmlands were converted into pastures, the price of staple grains saw an explosive increase in the 16th century.
