Elizabeth's dealing with the Mid-Tudor Crisis Flashcards
Ongoing problems of the Mid-Tudor Crisis?
Enclosure- issue since 15th century- continual issue and failure
Inflation- issue since the 1540’s and a consequence of debasement
Debasement- initiated under Henry VIII, continued under Somerset and Northumberland, recoinage organised by Mary
Issue of Poverty in the lead up to Elizabeth’s reign?
By the late 1540s there were 5,000 homeless migrants to London a year
Real wages had declined by 50% this alongside inflation had triggered unemployment.
How did Elizabeth attempt to deal with instability caused by a poor economy and disease?
Elizabeth’s first parliament attempted to deal with these issues via legislation – these though did not pass. The government then had to rely upon JPs and other officials (who had little power) to keep their localities in order and toothless royal proclamations.
How did Elizabeth attempt to deal with demands for higher wages?
The 1563 Statute of Artificers was a national attempt to sort this issue. It established rules; attempted to put potential workers in apprenticeships for 7 years and fix prices and wages
How did ELizabeth attempt to deal with poverty?
Despite religious changes, charity donations to the poor continued but this was no longer sufficient for the extent of the problem
In 1563 a further ineffective Act was produced. Parliament directed action still lagged behind local initiatives and the issue of poverty was not effectively dealt with until the 1570s.
How did Elizabeth attempt to deal with debasement?
Government was most successful in increasing confidence in the coinage
Early in the reign a scheme was established to withdraw debased coin to replace them with freshly minted coins. A Tudor government never again attempted debasement of coinage. Outside issues did continue to cause inflation but the government could no longer be blamed.
