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AQA Elizabethan England, 1568-1603 > Elizabeth and her Government > Flashcards

Elizabeth and her Government Flashcards

1
Q

When did Elizabeth become Queen of England and how old was she?

A

1558 and aged 25

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2
Q

Who was Elizabeth the daughter of?

A

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

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3
Q

What happened to Elizabeth’s mother?

A

Anne Boleyn was executed for treason and adultery, including alleged incest with her brother.

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4
Q

Who was Elizabeth’s older sibling?

A

Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary.

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5
Q

How did Mary I see Elizabeth?

A

As a threat to her throne, despite being unlikely to rule. In 1554 she had Elizabeth imprisoned.

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6
Q

Who was Elizabeth’s younger sibling?

A

Edward VI

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7
Q

How was Elizabeth raised?

A

Despite being unlikely to inherit she was raised and brought up within the royal household and well educted. Catherine Parr took Elizabeth under her wing and brought her into court.

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8
Q

What did the Act of Succession in 1544 do?

A

Restored Elizabeth as an heir to thre throne, but she could only succeed if her younger brother Edward and her older sister Mary died.

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9
Q

What was patronage?

A

A way for Elizabeth to ensure support and loyalty from courtiers. Elizabeth could award titles, land, and monopolies on trade like sweet wine and other powerful positions and money making opportunities. In exchange she got obedience and support.

She could take her support away to punish courtiers.

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10
Q

What was the royal court?

A

It was different from the government.

The royal court was made up of all the officials, servants and advisors that surrounded Elizabeth. The court was wherever she was, the centre of power and the source of the latest fashion trends.

It inlcuded the privy council, but JPs and Parliament were not part of it.

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11
Q

Who made up the government?

A

The Queen, her cloest advisors, the privy councillors and Parliament.

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12
Q

Who were the Lord Lieutenants?

A

They were responsible for running a particular area of the country, raising militia to fight for the queen if needed and were appointed by the queen. Many also served on the privy council.

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13
Q

Who made up Parliament?

A

Made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It had influence over tax and was responsible for passing laws. The queen could choose when to call parliament and was free to ignore their advice.

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14
Q

In the 45 years of her reign how many times did Elizabeth call Parliament?

A

13

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15
Q

Who were Justices of the Peace (JPs)?

A

Responsible for maintaining order and enforcing the law, there were several in every county.

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16
Q

Who were the Privy Council?

A

They were responsible for the day-to-day running of the country, dealing with all policy areas.

Although the queen could appoint whoever she wishes, in reality she had to appoint the most powerful landowners in the country, to provent rebellion.

If the council were united it was impossible for Elizabeth to go against their wishes, however, unity was very rare.

Led by the Secretary of State.

William Cecil and Francis Walsingham were 2 significant and powerful figures who served as Secretary of State.

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17
Q

How many members of the Privy Council were there under Elizabeth?

A

19 (Mary I had 40!)

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18
Q

What was the problem of succession?

A
  • Lizzie was Henry’s last living child and had no children of her, so it was unclear who would be next in line if she died before having children. This could lead to a violent struggle for power.
  • In 1562, she nearly died of smallpox. This drew attention to the uncertain future of England. There was pressure for her to marry.
  • She was considered illigimate by many Catholics.
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19
Q

What was the problem with foreign policy?

A
  • Catholic countries like Spain and France wanted influence over England and had the support of the Pope.
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20
Q

What was the most powerful and richest country at the start of her reign?

A

Spain

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21
Q

What religion was Elizabeth?

A

Protestant

22
Q

What religion was Philip II of Spain?

A

Catholic

23
Q

Who was the head of the Church of England?

A

The Monarch

24
Q

Who was the head of the Catholic Church?

A

The Pope

25
Q

What religion was Mary I?

A

Catholic

26
Q

What religion was Edward VI?

A

Protestant

27
Q

What was the problem with Mary, Queen of Scots?

A

MQS was next in line for the throne. She was Mary’s second cousin and a Catholic.

Many Catholics saw her as an alternative Queen of England.

She also had a son, James.

She was a threat to Elizabeth’s rule, a potential usurper.

28
Q

What was the problem of religion?

A

The Tudor period had seen religious instability, the country constantly flip flopping between Catholic and Protestant.

Many Catholics did nto trust Elizabeth and some claimed that she had no right to be Queen as they felt she was illigitmate. They believed Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn didn’t count as they didn’t believe in Henry’s divorce.

Puritanism, super strict protestants (fun sponges of the religious world), was also seen as a threat. There were a number of Puritans who had hoped to control Elizabeth’s Church and make it more extreme.

29
Q

What was the problem with taxation and money?

A

Mary had put the country into £300,000 of debt. Elizabeth inherited a country that was in mass debt with difficult harvests and famine. The country therefore had little money.

Elizabeth had to raise taxes, but poverty was widespread and raising taxes was very unpopular.

30
Q

What was the issue with Ireland?

A

Like those before her, Elizabeth considered herself Queen of Ireland. In 1559 she faced a major revolt in Ireland - the first of several through her reign.

31
Q

What were the pros to marriage?

A
  • Create an alliance with a foreign country or guarantee the loyalty of a powerful English family
  • Produce an heir to continue the Tudor line and stop Mary, QoS, from becoming Queen when Elizabeth died.
32
Q

What were the cons to marriage?

A
  • Loss of authority - either to a foreign ruler or an Englishman. By not marrying, Elizabeth and England kept their independence
  • Birth could be deadly. Elizabeth could die.
  • Her experience of marriage had been bad - her father had married 6 times and had her mother executed. Her sister’s, Mary I, marriage to Philip II of Spain had been unhappy and did not produce an heir.
  • Elizabeth was able to use the possibility of marriage to her advantage, if she married, she did not have the possibility anymore.
33
Q

Who were Elizabeth’s main potential suitors?

A

Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon
King Philip II of Spain
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

34
Q

Who was Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon?

A

The brother to the French King and Heir to the French throne.

By the time marriage was proposed, Elizabeth was 46 and unlikely to have children, if she married and had no children England would come under French control.

He was Catholic and many important figures were against the marriage.

35
Q

Who was Philip II of Spain?

A

One of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world.

Had been married to Elizabeth’s sister, Mary I, but rarely visited England and the marriage had no heir.

He was Catholic, very Catholic.

36
Q

Who was Robert Dudley?

A

Elizabeth’s childhood friend and a favourite of hers. Many assumed they were in love.

A key figure in the royal court and a member of the Privy Council.

When his wife died under suspicious circumstances, it meant it was impossible for them to marry due to the scandle and rumours of his involvement.

37
Q

What did Elizabeth say about remaining unmarried?

A

The she was married to the kingdom of England and that remaining single allowed her to focus on ruling her country and keeping England secure and Independent.

38
Q

Who sat in the House of Lords?

A

Lords, bishops, and other nobles

39
Q

Who sat in the House of Commons?

A

Members of Parliament, so called ‘commoners’.

40
Q

Parliament was responsible for?

A

Passing laws and setting taxes.

41
Q

How did Parliament feel about the issue of ‘marriage and succession’?

A

Many in Parliament saw it as their duty to find Elizabeth a husband and by 1566 openly discussed it. Elizabeth banned them from talking about it again, she felt it was her decision alone.

42
Q

How did Parliament feel about the issue of ‘religion’?

A

Parliament reflected the divisive nature of religion in Elizabethan society. The majority of those in both houses of Parliament were Protestant and supported Elizabeth’s religious settlement.

When she tried to pass laws making life difficult for Catholics she received support, but not when laws came down to Puritanism. A number of powerful Puritans tried to bring in laws to change the Church. Unsuccessfully.

43
Q

How did Parliament feel about the issue of ‘Freedom of Speech’?

A

MP, Peter Wentworth was arrested 3 times for arguing that MPs should be allowed to speak on any matter they chose. Elizabeth disagreed.

44
Q

How did Parliament feel about the issue of ‘Crime and Poverty’?

A

Many MPs recognised that simply punishing the poor did not work and attempted to introduce new poor laws. They were unsuccessful until 1601 when the Poor Law finally passed.

45
Q

How did Parliament feel about the issue of ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’?

A

Majority of Parliament saw her as a threat to national security and a significant number called for her execution. This pressure, and that of the Privy council may have led to her execution.

46
Q

How did Parliament feel about the issue of ‘monopolies’?

A

Giving monoplies was an important way to maintain loyalty from powerful men. But, in 1571, MP Robert Bell criticised them as unfair. Elizabeth agreed to make a few changes but MPs pushed for more. She avoided giving them more.

47
Q

What powers did Elizabeth have with Parliament?

A

She could dismiss them at any time, appoint new members of the House of Lords and have MPs arrested if they went too far.

48
Q

When was the Essex Rebellion?

A

1601

49
Q

Who was Essex and what was his relationship with the Queen?

A

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex had been a loyal subject to her and at a time been her favourite. He became a privy councillor in 1595 and had a monopoly on sweet wine.

He had a rivalry with Robert Cecil, son of the powerful William Cecil.

50
Q

What caused the Essex Rebellion?

A
  • Essex had an argument with the Queen during a privy council meeting. At one point he turned his back on her and she hit him, he nearly drew his sword but was stopped. He was placed under House Arrest.
  • The queen sent him to Ireland to deal with a rebellion, he failed and agreed a truce with the rebels - directly against her orders.
  • On his return he rushed into her chambers and caught her without a wig!
  • After his failures in Ireland, he fell from favour and she refused to renew his monopoly on sweet wine. He lost much of his wealth and influence.
  • Angry, with nothing left to lose, Essex began to gather supporters and plot.
51
Q

What happened during the Essex Rebellion?

A

In Feb 1601, Essex took 4 privy councillors hostage and marched them to his London house, along with 300 supports (unsuccessful courtiers and disgruntled unemployed soldiers).

He attempted to march with his men to the centre of London after locking up his hostages, in an effort to capture the Queen.

Many followers deserted him when offered a pardon, his route was blocked so he returned hom where his house was surrounded by Elizabeth’s forces and he and his followers were arrested.

The rebellion lasted 12 hours.

52
Q

What were the consequences of the Essex Rebellion?

A

Essex was executed 25th Feb 1601.
Elizabeth made it clear that she would not tolerate challenges to her authority even as she got older.

AQA Elizabethan England, 1568-1603 (3 decks)

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