Elizabethan England (proper) Flashcards
Who helped Elizabeth originally run the country?
The court - anyone that lived in the monarchs house.
Privy council - around 19 leading courtiers, advisers, senior officials
What problems did Elizabeth have in 1558?
Claims of illegitimacy
She was a woman - she was thought to be inferior to others. Many thought she should marry.
Religion - the divide in the country (catholic and protestant) created civil war concerns.
What challenges did Elizabeth have at home and abroad?
Financial weakness - costly wars led to a weak country
Many catholics saw Mary queen of scots as the legitimate monarch. She was also half French.
What were the three features of the 1559 religious settlement?
Act of supremacy (Elizabeth as supreme governor of the church)
Act of Uniformity (all churches and services to be the same across the country)
The Royal injunctions (instructions to enforce the other acts)
What was the purpose of the religious settlement?
Elizabeth wanted to find a compromise to establish a form of protestantism that Catholocs could accept. She didn’t want to persecute Catholics but hoped the religion would die out in England.
What was the Church of Englands role in society
Elizabeth used the church to increase her control e.g. church courts and inspections enabled her to enforce the religious settlement
Who were puritans?
Puritans were extreme protestants that dissaproved the use of the crucifix and special vestments.
What challenge did the puritans pose to Elizabeth?
They dissaproved of the crucifix and special vestments so Elizabeth had to back down on crucifixes but manged to ensure vestments were worn.
What challenge did the papacy present in 1566?
The Pope instructed all Catholics not to attend church services
When was the revolt of the Northern earls?
1569
What was the plan for the revolt of the Northern earls?
Earls of Northumberland and westmorland would raise an army
The army would take control of Durham and march south to join the duke of Norfolk’s forces.
Thousands of spanish troops would then land to support the rebels
Rebel forces would sieze control of London and overthrow Elizabeth
Mary would be placed on the throne and married to the Duke of Norfolk
What were the main events of the revolt of the Northern Earls?
Rebels took Durham cathedral and held a Catholic mass
The rebels controlled land as far as leeds
Most nobles stayed loyal to Elizabeth
Rebels forced to retreat and were defeted. Hundreds executed
What was the significance of the revolt of the northern earls? (4)
First and most serious Catholic rebellion against Elizabeth
Power and influence of northern Earls ended
Prompted harsher treatments against Catholics
The Pope excommunicated Elizabeth
What were relations like between Mary and Elizabeth 1568 - 69
Elizabeth didn’t know what to do with Mary. She wasn’t going to hand her over to Scottish Lords but didnt want to send her abroard so kept her in England
What were the three plots planned against Elizabeth?
Ridolfi
Throckmorton
Babington
What did the Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babington plots have in common?
They wanted to remove Elizabeth from the throne with the help of France or Spain and replace her with Mary.
What was the significance of the Babington plot?
The letters were intercepted and deciphered by Walsingham then used as evidence that Mary was directly involved.
When was Mary executed?
1587
Why was Mary executed?
The evidence from the Babington plot proved her guilty
Rumors of an imminent Spanish attack reinforced Mary’s threat.
What was the significance of Mary’s execution? (3)
It gave phillip of Spain another reason to want to remove Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was upset but it showed her new treatment of Catholics
Angered Englosh Catholics as their hopes of a Catholic monarch had been crushed.
What religious/political rivalry was there between phillip of Spain and Elizabeth?
Phillip was a strong Catholic monarch. Elizabeths support for protestants and treatment of Catholics created big problems between Spain and England.
Elizabeth rejected Phillips marriage proposal when she came to the throne.
England supported the dutch rebels
What commercial rivalry was there between England and Spain?
Spain dominated the new world and many English merchants opposed this, sometimes attacking spanish ships and ports.
What was the significance of the actions of sir Francis Drake (2)
He stole large amounts of money from spain from privateering.
He was knighted for his actiosn which sent a clear message to Spain.
What aspects of Elizabeths involvement in the Netherlands lead to war with Spain? (4)
She supported dutch rebels
She allowed dutch rebels to take shelter in English ports (sea beggars)
Took money from spanish ships (Genoese loan)
Provided financial help to the dutch rebels
What was the significance of the Genoese loan?
It futher angered Spain as the ships were sheltering in English ports and were seized
What was the role of Robert Dudley in the Netherlands?
He led failed military expeditions in the Netherlands that worsened relationships between England and Spain even further
What was the treaty of Joiville?
It united France and Spain against protestants.