Elizabeth's Character and Aims Flashcards
Describe the character of Elizabeth I with regards to government - Character and Aims
Elizabeth was incredibly well educated, with a very shrewd grasp of political decision making. She had considerable political experience from observing government and was strong-minded. Financially, she was rather parsimonious with money.
What issues faced Elizabeth at the point of her succession? - Character and Aims
England had undergone recent poor harvests, limiting food supplies. Flu epidemics and the ‘sweating sickness’ had also struck England, causing a decline in labour supply. The religious situation was still divisive, while Calais had recently been lost in war.
How was Elizabeth’s accession to the throne accepted by Mary’s councillors? What was the significance of this? - Character and Aims
Elizabeth’s accession to the throne was secured when Mary’s Lord Chancellor announced to Parliament that she had died, and proclaimed Elizabeth as the rightful monarch. This was significant as it symbolised how the nation’s political elite accepted Elizabeth as the rightful monarch without any conflict.
What significant appointment did Elizabeth make upon her accession? - Character and Aims
Upon her accession, Elizabeth appointed William Cecil as principal secretary, creating a political partnership that underpinned her reign.
How was Elizabeth’s accession responded to internationally? - Character and Aims
Elizabeth’s accession saw the Spanish ambassador visit her days before the death of Mary to affirm her rising to the throne and attempt to create a marriage alliance between Elizabeth and Philip II.
What was disputed about the extent of change that Elizabeth would initiate within the Church in England? - Character and Aims
It was unknown whether Elizabeth would create a church with Catholic practice that would reject the papal supremacy, a moderately Protestant church as seen under Somerset, or even a more radically minded church as seen under Northumberland.
When were the 39 Articles of Religion passed? What did these determine? - Character and Aims
The 39 Articles of Religion were passed in 1563, setting down the doctrines and character of the English Church following years of change throughout the English reformation.
When was the Act of Supremacy passed? What did this determine? - Character and Aims
The Act of Supremacy was passed in 1559, restoring the royal supremacy over the Church. This therefore rejected the papal supremacy, restored the Reformation legislation of Henry VIII, revived powers of royal visitation and made so that an oath of supremacy would be taken by clergymen and officials.
What was Elizabeth’s title at the top of the Church of England? - Character and Aims
Elizabeth was made to be the ‘Supreme Governor of the Church of England’.
How many parish clergymen were deprived of offices for refusal to take the oath of allegiance to the Queen as Supreme Governor? What % of the total was this? - Character and Aims
2000 parish clergymen were deprived of offices for refusals to take oaths of allegiance to the Queen as Supreme Governor, around 25% of the total.
When was the Act of Uniformity passed? What was this? - Character and Aims
The Act of Uniformity was passed in 1559, with this being a modified version of the 2nd Book of Common Prayer passed under Edward and Northumberland.
How was the Act of Uniformity 1559 modified from the 1552 Book of Common Prayer? (2) - Character and Aims
The 1559 Act of Uniformity allowed variations in the Eucharist that left the possibility of transubstantiation. It also omitted the ‘Black Rubric’, the mechanism designed to justify the practice of kneeling during the mass to ardent Protestants, with this perhaps intended to appeal to Catholic conservatives.
What was the ‘black rubric’? - Character and Aims
The ‘black rubric’ was a mechanism used in the 1552 Book of Common Prayer to explain away the practice of kneeling during the mass and reduce the significance of this practice to radical Protestants.
What issue was created over church ornaments and the clothing of the clergy by the Act of Uniformity 1559? - Character and Aims
The 1559 Act of Uniformity introduced that ornaments and clothing in clerical settings should be introduced as they were prior to the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, meaning that a Catholic influence would remain over these aspects of practice and features of the church.
What is Calvinism? - Character and Aims
Calvinism is a more radically minded form of Protestantism put forward by John Calvin, a French reformer.
