Accession years 1558 - 59 Flashcards
Who were Elizabeth I parents?
Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.
What year did Elizabeth I come into power?
1558.
What 5 areas was Elizabeth’s government made up of?
- The court
- The Privy Council
- Justices of the Peace (JPs)
- Parliament
- Lord Lieutenants
What was the court and its purpose in Elizabethan government?
- Made up of noblemen who acted as the monarch’s advisers and friends
- Members of the court could also be part of the Privy Council
What was the Privy Council and its role?
- 19 members of nobility who helped govern the country
- Monitored Parliament, JPs and oversaw law and order in the country
Who were Justices of the Peace and what did they do?
- Large landowners who were appointed by the government
- Kept law and order locally
Who were Lord Lieutenants and what was their purpose?
- Noblemen who governed English counties
- Responsible raising local militia
What was Parliament and its role?
- Made up of the House of Lords (made up of nobles and bishops) and the House of Commons (elected by people)
- Able to pass laws and approve taxes
What was the main idea behind Elizabethan society?
Hierachal structure based on wealth and power.
What percentage of people in Elizabethan England lived in countrysides?
90%
What percentage of people in Elizabethan England lived in towns?
10%
What was the hierachal structure of the countryside?
- Nobles
- Gentry
- Yeomen
- Farmers
- Vagrants
Who were nobles?
Major landowners; often lords and dukes.
Who were gentry and yeomen?
The gentry owned smaller estates than nobles and yeomen owned even smaller pieces of land.
Who were the farmers and vagrants?
Farmers either rented land or laboured for others. Vagrants were the homeless and unemployed.
What was the hierachal structure of towns?
- Merchants
- Professionals
- Business owners
- Unskilled labourers / unemployed
Who were merchants and professionals?
Merchants were very wealthy traders. On the other hand professionals were laywers, doctors, clergymen etc.
Who were business owners and unskilled labourers?
Business owners referred to highly skilled craftsmen such as blacksmiths, carpenters or tailors. Unskilled labourers had unregular work and were at the bottom of society.
How were lower groups in the social hierachy expected to treat those above them?
With obedience and care. Wherever you were, you owed respect to those above you. Households were run along similar lines.
What four challenges did Elizabeth face when she became queen?
- Legitimacy
- Marriage and gender
- Crown finances
- Religion
What were the issues surrounding Elizabeth’s legitimacy?
Elizabeth’s father Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth’s mother). The Pope refused to recognise this anulment, so when Elizabeth was born she was regarded as a child outside of marriage.
Why did legitimacy cause Elizabeth problems?
As Elizabeth was viewed as a ‘bastard’ child, many Catholics refused to acknowledge Elizabeth as a rightful ruler thus reducing her popularity.
Why was Elizabeth’s marital status under scrutiny?
Elizabeth was unmarried which was abnormal in society as she needed an heir. This is becuase Christian traditions suggested that women needed to follow men’s authority.
How did marriage and gender cause Elizabeth issues?
Since she was a woman, Elizabeth was already viewed as weak and incapable of ruling. Furthermore, if she solved this issue with marriage - who she married would be controversial.