1.1 Elizabeth Accession Flashcards
Give two reasons why society and government was poor in 1558
No police force or permanent army
Society, government and law relied on inequality
List the social hierarchy in England
Nobility, gentry, yeomen, tenent farmers, landless or labouring poor, vagrants/homeless
List the working hierarchy in England
Merchants, professionals, business owners, skilled craftsmen, unskilled workers and unemployed
What was the court
People in the court lived in or near the same palace as the monarch
Made mostly of nobility and they were key servents, advisers and friends of the monarch
Attending court required the monarchs permission
What was the courts role
To entertain and advise the monarch
A public display of wealth and power
Had influence with the monarch rather than actual power
What was the privy council
Made of leading coutiers, nobles and senior goverment officials such as William Cecil
19 members chosen by the monarch
Met 3 times a week and often presided over by the monarch
Role of the privy council
Advise the monarch
Oversaw law and order
Monitered JP’s
Who were JP’s
Large land owners who kept law and order. Unpaid and reported to the privy council. Was a popular job due to its position of status
Role of JP’s
To make sure social and economic policies were carried out
Heard cout cases every 3 months for more serious crimes
Part of the local government
Define the divine right
It was the right to rule by the grace of God
4 things a monarch could do
- Declare war and make peace
- Call and dismiss parliament and agree or reject any laws they voted for
- rule in some legal cases
- grant titles, land, money and jobs
Define Patronage
To provide someone with an important job or position (very effective for controlling people)
What was the secretary of state
The most important privy councilor. The councilor she was closest to and would give advise on important matters of the crown. Sir Wiliam Cecil was most notable who held it until 1573 who later became Lord Burghley
Why could a monarch not govern well without parliament
Only parliament could raise tax known as extraordinary taxation and the queens proclimations (direct orders) could not be enforced in law courts and the royal preogative was when parliament acted against the queens wishes
Why was Elizabths legitimacy in question
She was born in Henry IIV’s second marriage
Women was seen as inferior
2 pros if she married
A husband could be a military leader which was very important
Having childern would secure the countries stability
2 cons if she married
Only a foreign prince would be suitable but they would prioritise their own country
She would be sidelined and the the man would have Authority
Why did people not want a female monarch
- Women were uncapable
- England lost a war against france with Mary
- England had lots of disease, hunger,poverty
- A rebelion was caused by Mary’s marriage
- Mary burned 300 for religeous beliefs
Pros of Elizabeth
Smart Educated Good politics Spoke Latin, French, Greek and Italian Experience as a prisoner in 1554 for suspected treason Understood dangers in politics Confident Charismatic Good speeches
Cons of Elizabeth
Had a feared temper
Took a while to make up her mind
Challenges at home and abroard
- England needed money and support
- 300000 in debt in 1558
- The Auld Alliance of Scotland and France was a big threat
Mary Queen of Scots threat
- strong claim to the throne
- queen of France in 1559
- declared herself the legitimate Catholic claimant to the English thone
- those who saw Elizabeth as illigitemate could rally to MQoS
- Scotland had constant fighting and raids. In 1558 Mary’s mother Mary of Guise stationed French troops there
France and Calais
England held Calais since 1347. In the 1550s England (with Spain) went to war against France. Mary was married to the Spanish king in 1559 so the conflict ended with the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis Calais was returned to France however Elizabeth wanted it back but due to the reformation there was a threat that the Catholic Spain and France may unite against the now Protestant England.
What were features of parliamnet
Made of the house of lords and house of commons. It could only be called and dismissed by a monarch. Elections held before each new parliament but very few could vote. Elizabeth called parliament 10 times during her reign.
