Elizabethan government Flashcards
What problems did Elizabeth inherit?
Religious conflict due to fluctuations between monarchs
Marian debts of 250,000
Increasing poverty and unemployment
What problems did Henry VIII leave?
Reformation of England caused conflict
Thought expensive foreign laws = debts
Increasing levels of poverty
What problems did Edward VI leave?
His advisers began to implement more Protestant beliefs into England
Caused more tensions and conflict
What problems did Mary I leave?
Used violent methods to restore England back to Catholic
Worsened the tension by 1000%
Left large debts of 250,000
How did Elizabeth secure her popularity?
Using forms of propaganda
Coronation
Portraits
Progresses
What was the aim of her coronation?
To win the support of the nobles and other powerful subjects
Increase support of all subjects who were apprehensive due to the previous reigns
How did Elizabeth use her coronation?
It was a grand and lavish affair to show her power and a good first impression
Spent 16,000 despite debts
Use of Portraits
So her subjects could see her (no cameras)
So she could show herself as Majestic, immortal, youthful, wise, powerful and virgin
Manipulate her image as ageless, wealthy etc
Nobles displayed it to show loyalty
Royal progresses
Where Elizabeth would tour the countryside, stay in nobles houses and receive free things
Purpose or progresses
Form of propaganda so her subjects saw how powerful she was
Sense of novelty of seeing the Queen for the first time created patriotism
Allowed her to keep an eye on nobles
Patronage for nobles so they could win her favour and get things
This meant nobles were loyal to her
The royal court
Members: Her advisers, government officials, ladies-in-waiting and servants
Living with Elizabeth in Whitehall palace
What was the role of the royal court?
Looking after visitors and people
Accompanying her on progresses
The source of Britain’s political power where you could win favours by going there
Factions
Due to patronage, there was rivalry between people in court to be Elizabeth’s most loyal
So divisions formed
She could use this to make as many people loyal to her
Privy council
Group of advisors for Elizabeth
Role of the privy council
Assist the queen in decision making
Make sure decisions carried out
Keep the gov in touch with the whole country
Meet at the Queens request
How did Elizabeth choose the Privy council?
Some from Mary’s reign
William Cecil from her dads reign
Some her childhood friends
Wanted a range of viewpoints
Who was William cecil
Member from Henry’s reign
Served as Secretary of State = senior advisor
Moderate Protestant
Who was Walsingham
In charge of foreign affairs and spy networks
Devout Puritan (annoying asl)
Who was Robert Dudley
Elizabeth’s rumoured boyfriend
Another chief advisor
Rivalry with Cecil on different advice
Puritan
Who was Christopher Hatton
Organised royal progresses
Lord chancellor
Moderate Protestant
Who was Robert Devereaux
Commander for wars
Quarrelled with Elizabeth then eventually rebelled
Executed in 1601
7 Ps of the Privy council
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT = managed JPs, finance and the navy
POLICY = advice for problems, meetings with ambassadors
PROBLEM SOLVING
PROPAGANDA = distribution
PROTECTION = spy network
PARLIAMENT = managed discussions
PATHWAY = All letters sent through privy council
Justices of the peace
Wealthy men who weren’t paid but maintained law in their county as it gave them power
30-60 per county
JP tasks
Fixing prices and wages to make sure food and property was sold at correct value
Looking after impotent poor
Completed legal documents for workers
Maintenance on highways
Parish Constable, Night watch men, overseer of the poor
Juniors who worked under JPS
Prevented criminal activity
Prevented poaching
Carried out the poor laws
The Lord Lieutenant
Privy councillor and wealthy landowner
1 per county
Role of the Lord Lieutenant
Kept the Queen informed on what happened in each county
Oversaw JPS
The Sheriff
A man concerned with legal affairs in court like swearing in juries
Became less important during Elizabeth’s reign
What was Elizabeth’s Parliament like?
MPs only voted in by landowners
Only called when Elizabeth wanted to
Only talked about what she wanted to
House of Commons
450 MPs
Voted in by wealthy landowners
Usually gentlemen, lawyers or merchants
House of Lords
Non elected body of 100 Bishops and judges
Purpose of Parliament
Introduce new laws
Raise money in taxes = to do this she needed parliaments consent
Why would Elizabeth declare Parliament for taxes?
The monarch was responsible for paying the cost of running the country
To do this she needed money from taxes and customs
And due to inflation she had to do this more and more
What could they not discuss in Parliament?
Her marriage and heir
Religion
Declaring wars and peace
How did Elizabeth respond when challenged in religion in Parliament?
Said religion was a matter of state and not Parliament so they should accept the middle way
What was the issue of freedom of speech in Parliament?
They could only discuss what Elizabeth wanted and some topics were forbidden
Some MPs thought this was unfair and withdrew permission to tax
So she sent some to Tower of London temporarily
