Elizabeth I character and aims

Question 1

Problems Elizabeth faced on accession

Answer 1

legitimacy, gender, debt, foreign policy (England is isolated), religious division, marriage, loss of Calais (reputation of Mary)

Question 2

Characteristics of Elizabeth that helped her

Answer 2

younger than Mary on accession (M-37, E-25)
Elizabeth was also better educated and had a much better grasp of politics- she had experienced much within this sphere- eg being locked in the tower of London a few times
She spoke Latin, Greek, French and Italian
she was confident and charismatic

Question 3

Elizabeth’s aims as queen

Answer 3

restore protestantism (legititmacy)
free England of debt
develop trade and economy
protect English borders
ensure legitimacy
avoid war (needed to pursue a peaceful settlement with the French)

Question 4

Style of governing

Answer 4

landed between Henry VII and VIII, she was less involved than Henry VII but she was determined to preserve the prerogative powers of the crown, meaning, Elizabeth insisted on taking the most important decisions

Question 5

accession from Mary to Elizabeth

Answer 5

unchallenged, even though many of Mary’s councillors knew they would be out of the job upon Elizabeth’s accession- due to their differing religious views, there was an acceptance that Liz was the rightful heir

Question 6

Mary and Phillip with the accession

Answer 6

Mary named Elizabeth as heir, Phillip accepted this- he sent a Spanish convoy to meet Elizabeth a month prior to Mary’s death. He was proposed to Liz following Mary’s death but she rejected this

Question 7

external factors at the time of Liz’s accession

Answer 7

bad harvests, food is scarce and expensive
flu epedemics- highest mortality rates since the black death
delicate political and religious circumstances
failed war against France and loss of Calais

Question 8

acceptance of Liz’s accession

Answer 8

by many of Mary’s key councillors, eg Mary’s archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor announced Mary’s death then proclaimed the accession of Liz- political elite accept this then so will public

Question 9

appointment of William Cecil

Answer 9

Key councillor who would remain for 40 years, he had lots of experience as he had worked under both Henry VIII and Edward
Elizabeth did not announce any other political posts straight away- to keep Mary’ councillors guessing, a strategic move highlighting her political knowledge

Question 10

Date of Elizabeth’s coronation

Answer 10

January 15th 1559, only two months after Mary’s death- quick

Question 11

Tradition

Answer 11

In accordance to royal tradition, Elizabeth goes to the tower of London and meets with subjects before her coronation (shows political knowledge and skill)

Question 12

International confirmation

Answer 12

through Phillip of Spain, even though Elizabeth rejected his proposal, he did not intervene showing he did not want to disrupt the accession