Elizabeth - Government Flashcards
Elizabeth’s control over parliament?
Parliament not an integral part
Liz called and dismissed, decided how long they met, relations cordial until 1593
What was not allowed in parliament?
Royal prerogative - not allow debates on marriage, religion or foreign policy
Elizabeth Command
Golden Speech - talented speaker
What did the parliament do up until 1593?
Voted taxes when she wanted them and accepted restrictions she imposed
Clashes in parliament?
1563 and 1566 over marriage/name a successor due to smallpox - egged on by Cecil
Example of Elizabeth’s command over parliament?
1576 - Wentworth sent to Tower after wanting free speech
15 years of “failure” events
1593 - relationship deteriorates as old ministers dying out
Wentworth imprisoned again for wanting a successor
1601 - grievances over granting of monopolies
Who influenced choice of MPs?
Elizabeth influenced choice,
1/3 Mps nominated by a noble patron
What happened with monopolies?
Liz wanted to fund a far with Spain, had to back downwind promise to cancel some of the monopolies - conceded to parliament
Overall judgement of parliament?
Crown remained in control in face of conflict and beliefs of MPs, opposition only an issue when engineered by her privy council and when House of Commons united in an attempt to influence policy
What was her privy council like?
Policy advice, administration, state matters
Cecil and Dudley were key
Walsignham’s spy network prevented disloyalty
Conservative faction?
Potential problems negated by Walsigham and declined in 1580’s
Overall debate on privy council?
Successful government policies (rebellions in Ireland crushed)
PC good at administration
PC gave Liz contrasting advice allowing her to reach measured decisions
Liz used tactics like rewards, affection and consultation
Who were rivals in Privy Council?
Cecil and Dudley disagreed over marriage and political matters, generally able to compromise
Average JP’s per county
50
15 years of “failure” in privy council?
Dudley died in 1588
Cecil died in 1598
Successors less able - Cecil’s son
Factionalism repeated which prompted Essex rebellion in 1601
What did Lord Lieutenants do?
Members of noblility, raised local militias, reported local events to PC, oversaw JPs
Regional Councils
Council of North still running - led by Huntingdon from 1572
Harsh measures on Catholics implemented
How was patronage used?
Bestowing of titles by Liz or Cecil
Liz gave 18 titles during her reign
What happened to household and privy chamber?
Household had 1500 people, privy chamber becoming less important
Cecil
Most trusted minister
Favoured due to administrative skills
Political views aligned with Liz, conservative and focused on stability
Relationships within the courtiers
Elizabeth ofte had favourites - jealousy common
Hatton and Raleigh roused lots of jealousy
Factionalism
Rivalry common between Conservative, Protestant, old privy and new privy factions
Number of privy councillors and how many times did they meet?
20, x3 a week
Parliament statistics
13 sessions in 44 years
462 men in House of Commons - not democratically elected
