Hen House Tax
Location :
United Kingdom (19th Century)
Impact :
Increased the cost of raising chickens, affecting small-scale poultry farmers.
How it worked:
A tax on hen houses, aimed at generating revenue from poultry farming.
Summary:
The Poultry Levy
TRIVIA QUESTIONS
When was the Poultry Levy introduced in the United Kingdom?
1830s
Which government implemented the Poultry Levy in the United Kingdom?
The British government during the reign of Queen Victoria
What was the primary reason for introducing the Poultry Levy?
To raise revenue for the state and regulate the poultry market
Which items were primarily targeted by the Poultry Levy?
Chickens, ducks, geese, and other domesticated fowl
How was the Poultry Levy collected?
As a tax on the ownership, sale, and trade of poultry
What was a common reaction of the public to the Poultry Levy?
Opposition from farmers and poultry breeders due to increased costs, and some support from those who saw it as a means to regulate and improve market standards
How did the Poultry Levy impact the poultry industry in the 19th century?
It increased the cost of raising and selling poultry, which could have led to higher prices for consumers and financial strain for small-scale farmers
Which social class was most affected by the Poultry Levy?
Farmers and poultry breeders, particularly those with small-scale operations
What was one method used by people to avoid paying the Poultry Levy?
Undeclaring the number of poultry they owned or trading poultry through informal, untaxed channels
Who was responsible for enforcing the Poultry Levy?
Local tax collectors and agricultural inspectors
When did the Poultry Levy decline in significance or end?
Late 19th century, as part of broader agricultural and tax reforms
What broader historical context surrounded the introduction of the Poultry Levy?
A period of agricultural regulation and state intervention in the market to raise revenue and improve food standards