Elizabeth's Problems and Solutions First 5 Years of Reign 1558-63 Flashcards
Problem with establishing her new regime?
- Elizabeth unsure who to trust / be loyal in current government
- Mary was catholic and generated a catholic government - Eliz prot - unsure
Her solution to establishing her new regime?
- Swift changes in her household and privy council - household purged of Roman Cath’s and replaced with friends and relatives.
- Mary’s 39 councillors replaced with 19 - 10 of which served Mary bring continuity and experience. She also kept 7 great nobles - necessary to control massive areas.
Overall - dealt efficiently and effectively to keep the most experienced administrators & loyal council = success
Religious problems Eliz initially faced?
- Inherited a church that saw the pope as supreme head
- Roman Cath bishops in the house of lords - opposition to change
- Minority of radical protestants also demanded radical change
Getting a settlement to suit all would be extremely difficult
How did Elizabeth solve this religious problems?
- Was enforced quickly - Act of Uniformity of common prayer book took religion back to Protestant Ed - compromise made it acceptable to Catholics
- Act of Supremacy - full power of the church but only names supreme governor to ensure all religions accepted her role - but no change to role
- Made the transition gentle for the average churchgoer
- Both acts were enforced by her Bishops - did not change the settlement until later and over time people accepted it - radicals on both sides disappointed
What issues did Eliz have with her marriage and succession?
- No husband or heir- pressed by Privy council to name one
- .Rejected offers from Cath Phillip II and Archduke Charles and no prot alternative available
- Threat of Mary Queen of Scots increasd as she displayed the arms of England - increased pressure from Privy council
- Nearly died of smallpox in 1562
Eliz was never really interested in marrying or naming an heir - luckily James VI emerged - a prot
What economic issues did Eliz inherit?
- Crown debts of £300,000
- Most of this was due to high interest loans to Antwerp bankers & war
- Coinage had been debased with good and bad coins in circulation
How were the economic resolved?
- Rebased and refined the coins - gov profit of £50,000
- Marian administration had good plans in place - book of rates which doubled trade income to 58k and plans to increase royal rents
- Benefited from good harvests
- Elizabeth managed peace and only small wars to ensure expenditure wasn’t high - mainly credit to mary for good reforms - reduced debt to manageable amounts - firm position
What social problems did Eliz inherit?
- Inflation, rising urban unemployment and history of poor harvest
- Elites worried about increased numbers if wandering poor from towns to cities etc.
- Plague under Mary
How did Eliz attempt to solve the social issues?
- Statute of Artificers 1563 aimed to control wages through JP control, force men into apprenticeships and stay in countryside
- Plague helped population pressures - but increased wages
- 1563 Poor law - providing money for relief of poor - compulsory to give
- Society mainly stabilised due to better harvests
What foreign policy issues did Eliz inherit?
- Loss of Calais
- Threat of French dominating Scotland
- Spanish alliance likely collapse due to no marriage
How did Eliz attempt to solve foreign policy issues?
- Treaty of Cateau Cambresis - ensured Calais back if England good for 8 years - along with peace for key rival France
- Treaty’s of Berwich and Edinburgh also reduced threat of France in Scotland while taming MQS = success in 1559 & 1560
- However pressured to intervene in 1562 when French prots were under attack - France overcame tho. Resulted in treaty of Troyes - resulted in England not retaining Calais = failure.
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