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Social Welfare Developments in the 1600s

in: Events

1601
Enactment of the English Poor Law, requiring parish governments to tax households in order to care for the “worthy” poor. A system of public “outdoor” relief that was carried to the Colonies.

1619
First Africans arrive in Virginia as indentured servants for plantation owners.

1624
Virginia Colony passes the first legislation recognizing services and needs of disabled soldiers and sailors based on “special work” contributions to society.

1642
Enactment of the Plymouth Colony’s Poor Law.

1646
Enactment of the Virginia Colony’s Poor Law.

1647
Massachusetts Bay Colony requires an elementary school in towns of 50 families.

Poor Law enacted by Rhode Island emphasizes public responsibility for “relief of the poor, to maintain the impotent, and to employ the able and shall appoint an overseer for the same purpose.”

1657
Creation of the Scots Charitable Society, America’s first private charitable society.

1673
Poor Law enacted for the Connecticut Colony.

1676
Passage in Massachusetts of the colonies’ first statute concerned with providing special care for the mentally ill.

1692
The Province of Massachusetts Bay Acts establish indenture contracting or “binding out” for poor children so they will live “under some orderly family government.”

The Province of Massachusetts Bay enacts a poor law.

How to Cite this Article (APA Format): Social welfare developments in the 1600s. (2011). Retrieved [date accessed] from /events/1600s/.

One Reply to “Social Welfare Developments in the 1600s”

  1. Its seems as though history has continued to repeat it self in terms of laws on social welfare. Simply worded slightly different.

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