Poll tax english history book

To better understand the history of the tax, we must take a moment to look back further in history to the origins of feudalism. A poll tax is a tax assessed on an individual, usually as a condition of voting in an election. Part 2 of this highly acclaimed edition covers the counties of lincolnshirewestmorland. A poll tax, also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual head taxes were important sources of revenue for many governments from ancient times until the 19th century. Poll tax, in english history, a tax of a uniform amount levied on each individual, or head. In the last few years of margaret thatchers reign as british prime minister, she received heavy opposition and mass riots were held when she tried to have poll tax used as the tax system. Its immediate cause was the imposition of the unpopular poll tax of 81, which brought to a head the economic discontent that had been growing since the middle of the century. Using a combination of photos, text, and graphics, and drawing from the voices of activists and nonpayers, it describes the everyday organization of local anti poll tax groups and chronicles the demonstrations and riots leading up to the battle of. From sense poll head for uniform tax per individual.

Using a combination of photos, text, and graphics, and drawing from the voices of activists and nonpayers, it describes the everyday organization of local anti poll tax groups and chronicles the demonstrations and riots leading up to the battle of trafalgar. The gripping inside story of the biggest mass movement in british history, which at its peak involved over 17. Using a combination of photos, text, and graphics, and drawing from the voices of activists and nonpayers, it describes the everyday organization of local antipoll tax groups and chronicles the demonstrations and riots leading up to the battle. Constitution disallowed the poll tax as a prerequisite for voting. History book the gremlin and a poll tax world radio blog. For the 30th anniversary of the poll tax rebellion, simon hannah looks back on. Financial pressure at the close of edward iiis reign 77 led to the adoption of a tax of fourpence per head on all persons in the kingdom mendicants and persons under fourteen years being excepted. Poll tax, in english history, a tax of a uniform amount levied on each individual, or head, a main cause of the peasants revolt 81, and, in u. The poll tax revolts are a warning of the fury that changes to local authority finances can trigger already the voices of protest are growing louder and scenes reminiscent of the poll tax rebellion may not be far away the poll tax had its critics but it was a lot fairer than the current system john majors tory government introduced the council tax in 1993 to replace the hated poll tax. Wiltshireyorkshire records of social and economic history pt. Poll tax rebellion sage journals sage publications. The poll tax, officially known as the community charge, was a tax to fund local government in united kingdom, instituted 1989 by of margaret thatcher. To celebrate its opening, waiteata press hosted a lively moon festival celebration on september which brought together members of the chinese community, including chinese poll tax heritage trust, plus other supporters and funders of.

This book tells for the first time the full and gripping story of the policy that. By the 1940s some of these taxes had been abolished, and in 1964 the 24th amendment to the u. The largest protest occurred in central london on saturday 31 march 1990, shortly before the tax was due to come into force in england and wales. Poll taxes article about poll taxes by the free dictionary. Poll tax by definition is a tax, of uniform amount levied on each individual, or head 1 and dates back to 14th century england. Victoria university of wellingtons waiteata press recently reopened its doors after an eightmonth closure for earthquake strengthening. The poll tax riots were a series of riots in british towns and cities during protests against the community charge colloquially known as the poll tax, introduced by the conservative government of prime minister margaret thatcher. Poll tax introduced 81 peasants revolt against poll tax occurred 99 king richard ii forced to resign. Mar 18, 2016 that receipt for carrs poll tax now resides in the collections of the smithsonians national museum of african american history and culture. In the us, generally used today to refer to taxes that must be paid in order to vote. This book tells the gripping inside story of the biggest mass movement in british history, which at its peak involved over 17 million people.

Poll tax definition in the cambridge english dictionary. In the united kingdom, poll taxes were levied by the governments of john of gaunt in the 14th century, charles ii in the 17th and margaret thatcher in the 20th century. Those that do are in city archives and county record offices. The tax records therefore provide information about people who are rarely, if ever, mentioned in other documents frequently including details. Most citizens were subject to a poll tax, which was a flat tax on every adult in a jurisdiction, as well as property and church taxes. In this respect they fall into the same class as the other attempts to supplement revenue by novel devices. How socialists and the poll tax movement drove thatcher. Her daughter, author charlene butts ligon, is keeping her story alive in her book fearless. The poll tax records of 77, 79 and 81 form a massive resource about individuals, their occupations, and their relationships, and therefore provide an intriguing and detailed picture of late fourteenthcentury england.

Buy poll tax rebellion by danny burns, marie simmons, mark simmons isbn. The charge was replaced by council tax in 1993, two years after its abolition was announced. Using a combination of photos, text, and graphics, and drawing from the voices of activists and nonpayers, it describes the everyday organization of local antipoll tax groups and chronicles the demonstrations and riots leading up to the battle of. Poll book london 1772, a list of the persons who have polled in the election of lord mayor. William the conqueror brought to england in his norman conquest, order and an accounting system the world had never seen before. The tax has long been attacked as being an unfair burden upon those less able to pay. Of the poll taxes in english history, the most famous was the one levied in 80, a main cause of the peasants revolt of 81, led by wat tyler. It replaced the previous multitiered system based on the value of your home and therefore the cost to workingclass people was massively hiked. The rebellion drew support from several sources and included welltodo artisans and villeins as well as. The poll tax was a regressive local government tax imposed on every person 18 years and over, which meant rich individuals could pay the same amount or even less than the poor. Local woman fought poll tax norfolk state university. Fair taxation was a key issue for many english citizens during the medieval period. May 17, 2001 the poll tax records of 77, 79 and 81 form a massive resource about individuals, their occupations, and their relationships, and therefore provide an intriguing and detailed picture of late fourteenthcentury england.

This book tells for the first time the full and gripping story of the policy that toppled the centurys longestserving prime minister and brought grandmothers on to the. A history of the social movement that brought down prime. A tax determined as a uniform, fixed amount per individual. All produce generated from the dedicated portion of land was taken as a tax. The rebellion drew support from several sources and included welltodo artisans and villeins as. Poll tax definition is a tax of a fixed amount per person levied on adults and often linked to the right to vote.

Although often associated with states of the former confederate states of america, poll taxes were also in place in some northern and western states, including california, connecticut, maine, massachusetts, minnesota, new hampshire, ohio, pennsylvania, vermont and wisconsin. Reward, probability, benefit, cost basically says you have little to no benefit to voting. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The largest protest occurred in central london on saturday 31 march 1990, shortly before the tax was due to come into force in england and. The tax records therefore provide information about people who are rarely, if ever, mentioned in other documents frequently including details of occupations and relationships. In turkey, in the fifteenth century, the jews were subject to a light polltax, payable only by males over twelve years of age. The 24th amendment ended the poll tax january 23, 1964 imagine that you are finally old enough to vote in your first election. For election day, a history of the poll tax in america.

List of books and articles about poll tax online research library. The history of the english fiscal system affords the best known example of continuous financial development in terms of both institutions and methods. A poll tax is a tax levied as a prerequisite for voting. Not long ago, citizens in some states had to pay a fee to vote in a national election. The community charge, commonly known as the poll tax, was a system of taxation introduced. The 24th amendment ended the poll tax americas library. Poll book of the shire and burgh of aberdeen, 1696. Of the poll taxes in english history, the most famous was the one levied in 80, a main cause of the peasants revolt of 81 led by wat tyler 2 by june 81, people of england had three poll tax assessments in less than four years 77, 79 and 81. The gripping inside story of the biggest mass movement in british history, which at its peak involved over 17 million people. Poll taxes in the colonies, and subsequently in the states, werent always linked directly to voting. Poll taxes enacted in southern states between 1889 and 1910 had the effect of disenfranchising many blacks as well as poor whites, because payment of the tax was a prerequisite for voting. A political history of the poll tax in virginia, 19001950. This trust provides funding to help strengthen the unique identity of chinese new zealanders and their. In the united kingdom, poll taxes were levied by the governments of john of gaunt in the 14th century, charles ii in the 17th and margaret thatcher in the 20th.

But first, 50 years ago this week, a small american automaker goes fendertofender with foreign imports. This gripping book recounts the british governments greatest domestic policy disasters of modem times, perhaps of the century. Accordingly, the virginia legislature authorized a poll tax on caucasian males 16 and older. The fourteenth century, 799 oxford history of england. Chinese poll tax heritage trust, wellington, new zealand. Poll tax certificate archives new zealand, ls 241 1615 parliament passed the chinese immigrants act. It was a national tax, levied on individuals rather than property, and introduced for a short period only, in order to meet the debts incurred by the armed forces at. Perhaps the most revolutionary changes occurred in the 17th century as a. The government revived the poll tax between 1660 and 1698, but few records still exist. That receipt for carrs poll tax now resides in the collections of the smithsonians national museum of african american history and culture.

Georgia created a cumulative poll tax requirement in 1877. It releases a competitive subcompact carand succeedsat least for a time. The electoral roll in england fell almost 85,000 in 1989, having risen more than 200,000 annually for much of the preceding decade. Mccalmont, frederick haynes, mccalmonts parliamentary poll book. The oxford history of england is a well known and useful basis for the study of english history it is. Poll tax resistance as a key chapter in the history of british popular uprisings. Poll taxes emerged as part of a package of laws throughout the postreconstruction south in the late 1800s and early 1900s and were used as a technique by. The national opposition to the poll tax especially vehement in the north of england and scotland was the major factor. In the united states, the poll tax has been connected with voting rights. How a poor virginia seamstress took on jim crow, beat the poll tax and changed her city forever. It is based on the idea that everyone pays the same amount of tax. Poll tax rebellion, precedes what i suspect will be a plethora of books on how i wethey fought the poll tax and won. A poll tax is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual. The english poll taxes of 77, 79, and 81 taxed householders, wives, dependants, and servants individually.

The enormous wealth of material on norfolk is of particular significance. A poll tax of one dollar was levied on every white male resident over the age of twentyone and on women who were heads of household. Poll tax definition, a capitation tax, the payment of which is sometimes a prerequisite to exercise the right of suffrage. Deemed to fall disproportionately on the poorer elements of the community, the poll tax was temporarily abolished in 1645.

Poll tax article about poll tax by the free dictionary. Peasants revolt, also called wat tylers rebellion, 81, first great popular rebellion in english history. Identify the purpose of the 24th amendment differentiate between the abolition of the state and federal poll tax. To celebrate its opening, waiteata press hosted a lively moon festival celebration on september which brought together members of the chinese community, including chinese poll tax heritage trust, plus other supporters and funders of victorias. It provided for a single flatrate percapita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the local authority. Although no longer a significant source of revenue for any major country, the poll tax did provide large sums for many governments until well into the 1800s. By 1846, when texas became the thirtysixth state in the union, there were sixtyseven county governments already organized as functioning units of the state, yet no authorized census of the state was. In the united states, most discussion of the poll tax has centred on its use as a mechanism of voter suppression directed originally at african. A tax that must be paid in order to voteusage notes. After reconstruction 18651877the twelveyear period of rebuilding that followed the american civil war 18611865many southern states passed poll taxes in an effort to keep african americans from voting. Several countries utilized poll taxes throughout history, though they have not been very popular.

Poll tax was also used as a colloquial term to describe the uks community charge. The community charge, commonly known as the poll tax, was a system of taxation introduced in replacement of domestic rates in scotland from 1989, prior to its introduction in england and wales from 1990. Although periods of great upheaval occurred from the time of the norman conquest to the beginning of the 20th century, the line of connection is almost entirely unbroken. The charge was replaced by council tax in 1993, two years after its abolition. Jul 01, 2001 the gripping inside story of the biggest mass movement in british history, which at its peak involved over 17 million people. Plus, two decades ago, more than 100,000 people protest a controversial tax in london. In 2015, islamic terrorists attack a college in kenya.