Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. A political history of the poll tax in virginia, 19001950. 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. 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. The fourteenthcentury poll tax returns and the study of english surname. As data on the number of taxpayers became more precise, the poll tax on peasants was first lowered to 74 and then to 70 kopeks. Typically, poll taxes are not popular with the average citizen, as history of those countries using them has shown. 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 americans, especially in southern states. In the us, generally used today to refer to taxes that must be paid in order to vote, with high risk of confusion if used for head tax. 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. Census reveals that washingtons nonenglish speaking.
The community charge poll tax was a new system of taxation introduced in scotland in 1989 and england and wales in 1990 by the then ruling conservative government. 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. British win repeal of poll tax flat tax, 19891990 global. Instead it triggered civil disobedience and riots and. Polltax documents for dorset and gloucestershire, the counties used for comparative purposes above when considering the tax quotas of 34, have not survived. Poll tax has continued in many forms through to modern history. Poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud, and intimidation still prevent many from voting. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a pdf of a single entry from a reference work in or for personal use. Poll tax division of the humanities and social sciences. 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. Poll tax simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Reward, probability, benefit, cost basically says you have little to no benefit to voting. Information about poll tax in the dictionary, synonyms and antonyms. Recalling an era when the color of your skin meant you paid to vote celebrating the 50th anniversary of a ruling that made the poll tax unconstitutional. The 24th amendment ended the poll tax january 23, 1964 imagine that you are finally old enough to vote in your first election. During the anglosaxon period, the main forms of taxation were land taxes, although custom duties and fees to mint coins were also imposed. In march 1549 parliament granted edward vi the proceeds of a tax on sheep coupled with a purchase tax on cloth. Lessons from the british poll tax disaster peter smith abstract as a means of financing british local government y the attempt to replace the residential property tax with a community charge, or poll tax, has proved disastrous. It is based on the idea that everyone pays the same amount of tax. Full scanned version of the definitive grassroots history of the mass working class. Poll tax comparison students compare the causes, events and consequences of the 81 and 1989 introduction of poll taxes. 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. A poll tax, also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable. For the explanation of the asterisks or see above p. This book tells the gripping inside story of the biggest mass movement in british history, which at its peak.
It also showed that a determined mass movement can defeat specific government policies and seemingly powerful right wing leaders can be driven out of office altogether. Even those taken to court refused to pay and only 28% paid up in england and wales. A journal of quantitative and interdisciplinary history on. Poll tax was also used as a colloquial term to describe the uks community charge. Yet underlying the reform was the intellectually appealing notion of seeking to enhance accountability in local. Poll tax article about poll tax by the free dictionary. Westminsterresearch the fourteenthcentury poll tax returns and. Danny burns was secretary of the avon federation of antipoll tax unions and. Initially, the tax was assessed at 80 kopeks per person per year.
Poll tax, in english history, a tax of a uniform amount levied on each individual, or head. Learn the translation for poll tax in leo s english. The poll tax article about the poll tax by the free. Urban identity and the poll taxes of 77, 79, and 81 jstor. A poll tax is a tax assessed on an individual, usually as a condition of voting in an election. The first, pursued through a history of poll taxes in tanzania and uganda, is to. The tax has long been attacked as being an unfair burden upon those less able to pay. The government couldnt arrest all those people as it was seen as a protest rather than criminal offence.
The historic poll tax campaign showed the vital role that socialists can play in putting forward strategy and tactics to win. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Like the english poll tax, the french capitation tax was assessed on rank for taxation persons. The 24th amendment ended the poll tax americas library. The fourteenthcentury poll tax returns and the study of. The following names are taken from the 81 poll tax of su olk found in 1.
Head taxes were important sources of revenue for many governments from ancient times until the 19th century. Poll tax by definition is a tax, of uniform amount levied on each individual, or head and dates back to 14th century england. Not long ago, citizens in some states had to pay a fee to vote in a national election. The tax rolls are written in latin, so the given names have been latinized, though the surnames have not. A poll tax, also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual. There are several famous cases of poll taxes in history, notably a tax formerly required for voting in parts of the united states that was often. The fourteenthcentury poll tax returns and the study of english surname distribution parkin, harry home.
Community charge poll tax definition and importance. How socialists and the poll tax movement drove thatcher. Such taxes were important sources of revenue for many countries into the 19th century, but this is no longer the case. It was probably the shortest lived tax in english fiscal history, being hastily repealed in january 1550 and although some.
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. Ancient history nonclassical to 500 ce early history 500 ce to 1500. The poll tax or community charge was supposed to make local council finance fairer and more accountable. All produce generated from the dedicated portion of land was taken as a tax. The charge was replaced by council tax in 1993, two years after its abolition was announced. A journal of quantitative and interdisciplinary history, 48 1, pp. Until 1782, schismatics were forced to pay twice the usual rate. In the united states, the poll tax has been connected with voting rights. Taxation in medieval england was the system of raising money for royal and governmental expenses. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet.
A poll tax is a tax levied as a prerequisite for voting. A poll tax, head tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual as opposed to a percentage of income. In the united states a similar tax based on the right to vote was struck down in 1964 with the 24th amendment. In the united kingdom, poll taxes were levied by the governments of john of gaunt in the 14th century. 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. A poll tax is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual. Peasants revolt, 81, first great popular rebellion in english history. The poll tax and census of sheep, 1549 early modern england. History of voting in america washington secretary of state. Over 100,000 spanish translations of english words and phrases. The community charge, commonly known as the poll tax, was a system of taxation introduced.
In turkey, in the fifteenth century, the jews were subject to a light polltax, payable only by males over twelve years of age. In britain poll or head taxes can be traced at least to 77, when a fixed sum. The fourteenthcentury poll tax returns and the study of english. The poll tax riots were a series of riots in british towns and cities during protests against the community charge, introduced by the conservative government of prime minister margaret thatcher. 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. The total amount of the poll tax was determined by the sum needed to maintain the army.
Proper usage and audio pronunciation plus ipa phonetic transcription of the word poll tax. This quiz and corresponding worksheet gauge your understanding of what a poll tax is and the laws that eventually abolished its use in the united states of america. Operation of poll tax in iowa is an article from publications of the american statistical association, volume 6. Poll tax definition, a capitation tax, the payment of which is sometimes a prerequisite to exercise the right of suffrage. This also means that married women in general are not recorded with any surname, but are instead described as uxor ejus. Pdf mass taxation and statesociety relations in east africa. Several countries utilized poll taxes throughout history, though they have. Spanish translation of poll tax the official collins englishspanish dictionary online. 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. The fourteenthcentury poll tax returns and the study of english surname distribution. A poll tax, as defined by, is a tax assessed on an individual, usually as a condition of voting in an election. The community charge replaced the rates, a system of tax where a certain amount was charged by the local council depending on the rental value of a house with a flat rate charge paid by every adult, earning the nickname. 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.
With nounverb tables for the different cases and tenses links to audio pronunciation and. 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. English surnames have been considered in genealogical, historical. What was the issue with having 18 million refusing the pay the poll tax. Poll tax definition is a tax of a fixed amount per person levied on adults and often linked to the right to vote. A survey of the uk tax system institute for fiscal studies. Fair taxation was a key issue for many english citizens during the medieval period. To eliminate the poll tax, a flat tax which is the same for everyone regardless of wealth. The poll or capitation head tax in the united states was a lump sum tax levied by state and local. Beresford, lay subsidies and poll taxes bridge place, 1963 carolyn fenwick, the poll. It provided for a single flatrate percapita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the local authority.
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