Legal Definitions - bread acts

Definition: Bread Acts were laws that ensured that people who were imprisoned for debt were provided with sustenance, particularly bread. These laws were once enforced in both England and the United States.

• In England, the Bread Act of 1822 required that prisoners be given a daily allowance of bread and water.
• In the United States, the Bread Act of 1795 provided for the relief of insolvent debtors and required that they be given a certain amount of bread and other provisions while in prison.

These examples illustrate how Bread Acts were put in place to ensure that people who were imprisoned for debt were not left to starve. The laws required that they be provided with at least a basic sustenance, such as bread and water, while they were in prison. This was seen as a humane way to treat people who were in a difficult situation, and it helped to prevent them from becoming even more destitute.