1 - Kingdoms of Britain in 1603

Question 1

Name Name 4 issues that faced society in 1603

Answer 1

Population increase (production cant keep up)
Famine
Unemployment
Inflation

Question 2

What is meant by ‘the great chain of being’?

Answer 2

The idea that everybody’s place in society was given by god and there was a hierarchy

Question 3

What was the role of the Jps?

Answer 3

Enforce government policies
Acted as judges in lesser cases
Issued fines

Question 4

Why did riots become common and who dealt with them?

Answer 4

Anger over the social climate
JPs

Question 5

What was the climate of trade in the country?

Answer 5

Trade was broadening abroad
London was the financial center

Question 6

What is the royal prerogative?

Answer 6

teh power of the king to act on his own authority, wars, foreign policy ect

Question 7

What is the divine right of kings?

Answer 7

the idea that the crown only answers to god, making him the sole lawmaker

Question 8

What is the argument against the power of the crown?

Answer 8

Common laws have been created over centuries and shouldn’t be changed by one individual

Question 9

What is the ‘court’?

Answer 9

Not an actual place, just those who surround the crown

Question 10

What was the privy council?

Answer 10

The formal organ for advice or admin
the king was expected to listen but not bound to act on their advice

Question 11

Who were the gentlemen of the Bedchamber?

Answer 11

Those appointed by the king to wait on him (informal)

Question 12

What were the benefits of being a gentleman of the bedchamber?

Answer 12

proximity to the king allowed you to have influence on decisions
gifts like land and pensions

Question 13

What were the three bodies of the English legal system in 1603?

Answer 13

the king
the court
parliament

Question 14

What power did parliament have over the king?

Answer 14

They were able to refuse subsidies

Question 15

Why may ordinary revenue not be enough to support the king?

Answer 15

Inflation rises, giving parliament more influence as the king asks for more subsidies

Question 16

What were the limitations on parliament?

Answer 16

Can be convened and dismissed by the crown
often summoned irregularly

Question 17

Who were the main 3 groups living in Ireland?

Answer 17

1 - the native peasants
2 - the old english
2 - the new english

Question 18

Who were the ‘old english’?

Answer 18

Catholic english settlers who had lived there a long time - owned 1/3 of the land

Question 19

Who were the ‘new english’?

Answer 19

protestant English settlers who had recently migrated - controlled the government in Dublin

Question 20

Who were the native peasants living in ireland?

Answer 20

catholics who made up most of the population - were often poor and excluded from politics

Question 21

How did ireland differ from scotland as a nation?

Answer 21

Was not independent like Scotland and acted more as a colony - had English laws

Question 22

Why was Ireland problematic?

Answer 22

there was social unrest because -
English laws were imposed on them
Protestantism had been imposed on them
English politicians often ignored Irish culture and language

Question 23

Why was the scotish political system abnormal?

Answer 23

The kirk (church) had a lot of power and the government were less involved in the lives of everyday people

Question 24

What was introduced in scotland, against royal wished

Answer 24

Presbyterianism

Question 25

What is Presbyterianism?

Answer 25

a strict for of Protestantism that places more emphasis on bible instead of tradition - didn’t have bishops so gave more power to individuals

Question 26

What was the general assembly?

Answer 26

Where religious decisions would be made - often provided a meeting place to discuss other things

Question 27

Why would James regulalry attend the general assembly?

Answer 27

to protect his own interests

Question 28

What was James’ goal with scotland and england?

Answer 28

to unify - but the english were not on board

Question 29

When james left scotland how involved was he in its running?

Answer 29

he was a very absent leader

Question 30

Were parliament keen on james in scotland?

Answer 30

No, they often criticized him

Question 31

When james came to power what were the issues with politics?

Answer 31

corruption
salaries were low so civil servants and courtiers relied on grants
Elizabeth didn’t grant these regularly so left many upset
he gave out too much patronage

Question 32

What was the economic situation like following the death of elizabeth?

Answer 32

good
£90,000 surplus and only a £400,000 debt
this debt was covered by ducth and frecnh debts and uncollected subsidies

Question 33

Did james maintain a positive ecenomic situation when he came to the throne?

Answer 33

no
it took less than 3 years to amount over 800,000 in debts

Question 34

What was the Elizabethan legacy?

Answer 34

Elizabeth may have managed finances well, but at the expense of James - only making short term fixes

Question 35

What short term fixes did Elizabeth make?

Answer 35

selling crown lands and cutting expenditure (creating an impoverished crown
selling crown land for much less than it was worth (selling it at £68 a year when it was worth over 1000)

Question 36

What was the position of Catholics in 1603?

Answer 36

many were law abiding but wanted an end to resusancy
had been placed under pressure over their loyalty to the pope over the leader of their country
their numbers were dwindling

Question 37

What was james’ attitude towards war?

Answer 37

wanted to act passively, and did not want to become dependent on parliament for money in the event of a war

Question 38

What foreign policy did james inherit?

Answer 38

a war with Spain
alliance with the dutch
became leader of the most powerful protestant power