Elizabethan government

Question 1

What problems did Elizabeth inherit?

Answer 1

Religious conflict due to fluctuations between monarchs
Marian debts of 250,000
Increasing poverty and unemployment

Question 2

What problems did Henry VIII leave?

Answer 2

Reformation of England caused conflict
Thought expensive foreign laws = debts
Increasing levels of poverty

Question 3

What problems did Edward VI leave?

Answer 3

His advisers began to implement more Protestant beliefs into England
Caused more tensions and conflict

Question 4

What problems did Mary I leave?

Answer 4

Used violent methods to restore England back to Catholic
Worsened the tension by 1000%
Left large debts of 250,000

Question 5

How did Elizabeth secure her popularity?

Answer 5

Using forms of propaganda
Coronation
Portraits
Progresses

Question 6

What was the aim of her coronation?

Answer 6

To win the support of the nobles and other powerful subjects
Increase support of all subjects who were apprehensive due to the previous reigns

Question 7

How did Elizabeth use her coronation?

Answer 7

It was a grand and lavish affair to show her power and a good first impression
Spent 16,000 despite debts

Question 8

Use of Portraits

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Royal progresses

Answer 9

Where Elizabeth would tour the countryside, stay in nobles houses and receive free things

Question 10

Purpose or progresses

Answer 10

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

Question 11

The royal court

Answer 11

Members: Her advisers, government officials, ladies-in-waiting and servants
Living with Elizabeth in Whitehall palace

Question 12

What was the role of the royal court?

Answer 12

Looking after visitors and people
Accompanying her on progresses
The source of Britain’s political power where you could win favours by going there

Question 13

Factions

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Privy council

Answer 14

Group of advisors for Elizabeth

Question 15

Role of the privy council

Answer 15

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

Question 16

How did Elizabeth choose the Privy council?

Answer 16

Some from Mary’s reign
William Cecil from her dads reign
Some her childhood friends
Wanted a range of viewpoints

Question 17

Who was William cecil

Answer 17

Member from Henry’s reign
Served as Secretary of State = senior advisor
Moderate Protestant

Question 18

Who was Walsingham

Answer 18

In charge of foreign affairs and spy networks
Devout Puritan (annoying asl)

Question 19

Who was Robert Dudley

Answer 19

Elizabeth’s rumoured boyfriend
Another chief advisor
Rivalry with Cecil on different advice
Puritan

Question 20

Who was Christopher Hatton

Answer 20

Organised royal progresses
Lord chancellor
Moderate Protestant

Question 21

Who was Robert Devereaux

Answer 21

Commander for wars
Quarrelled with Elizabeth then eventually rebelled
Executed in 1601

Question 22

7 Ps of the Privy council

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Justices of the peace

Answer 23

Wealthy men who weren’t paid but maintained law in their county as it gave them power
30-60 per county

Question 24

JP tasks

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Parish Constable, Night watch men, overseer of the poor

Answer 25

Juniors who worked under JPS
Prevented criminal activity
Prevented poaching
Carried out the poor laws

Question 26

The Lord Lieutenant

Answer 26

Privy councillor and wealthy landowner
1 per county

Question 27

Role of the Lord Lieutenant

Answer 27

Kept the Queen informed on what happened in each county
Oversaw JPS

Question 28

The Sheriff

Answer 28

A man concerned with legal affairs in court like swearing in juries
Became less important during Elizabeth’s reign

Question 29

What was Elizabeth’s Parliament like?

Answer 29

MPs only voted in by landowners
Only called when Elizabeth wanted to
Only talked about what she wanted to

Question 30

House of Commons

Answer 30

450 MPs
Voted in by wealthy landowners
Usually gentlemen, lawyers or merchants

Question 31

House of Lords

Answer 31

Non elected body of 100 Bishops and judges

Question 32

Purpose of Parliament

Answer 32

Introduce new laws
Raise money in taxes = to do this she needed parliaments consent

Question 33

Why would Elizabeth declare Parliament for taxes?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

What could they not discuss in Parliament?

Answer 34

Her marriage and heir
Religion
Declaring wars and peace

Question 35

How did Elizabeth respond when challenged in religion in Parliament?

Answer 35

Said religion was a matter of state and not Parliament so they should accept the middle way

Question 36

What was the issue of freedom of speech in Parliament?

Answer 36

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