Elizabethen Era Flashcards
Name all of Elizabeth’s problems
Legitimacy:Elizabeth’s right to the throne and legitimacy was questioned by the catholics because her parents were married under the Church of England which people didn’t consider a real religion
The privy council:Elizabeth was expected to listen to the advice of the privy council before making a decision
Heritage:people wanted her to get married as if she died she would have no heir to the throne
Expectations of women:many wealthy and powerful nobles thought that women were to week to rule a country
What was the privy council
The Privy council was the most important part of Elizabeth’s government :
it contained men chosen as advisors and heads of government departments such as the Lord Treasurer who was responsible for the crowns finances and spending.
They met frequently sometimes daily and advised on big decisions of state such as war, religion and marriage.
The Privy Council was responsible for every decision to do with money no matter how small.
The Exchequer looked after the crowns money and the Queen had to pay for everything out of her pocket.
What were Elizabeth’s challenges from different countries
There were 3 main countries that England was mainly worried about. These countries were Scotland, France and Spain
Scotland
Scotland was a threat because of its religious ties with France. They were both catholic country whilst England was protestant. Furthermore, Mary queen of Scots (the queen of scotland then) was married to the throne of france which furthered their connection.
France
France had troops in scotland due to their connection which posed a threat because scotland was bordering England which meant they had a base to invade England from. They also were catholic and thought Mary was more deserving of the English throne.
Spain
Spain was the most powerful country in europe and was aggressively catholic and against all protestantism.
What was the religious divide
When elizabeth ascended to the throne there were may religious divisions in the country.
Warnings from the past- religious changes in the past have led to outbreak and protest amongst the population.
Warning from abroad- relationships with other powerful countries could be tainted
Divisions among the english people- there was division between the people in that some were catholic and some were protestant
Elizabeth had to make a difficult decision since compromise was the best idea but it would likely end up pleasing neither parties
Elizabeth’s first move was to draw up a religious settlement with her privy council
What were some of Elizabeth’s challenges from home and abroad
1569: The revolt of the northern earls
Catholic nobles in the north led to a revolt to restore the catholic religion and there was an unsuccessful plan to marry mary queen of scots duke of Norfolk.
1570:pope excommunicated Elizabeth
It told catholics they were no longer obliged to obey Elizabeth this made it easier for them to consider plotting to overthrow her by force.
1571: Ridolfi plot
A catholic plot to replace Elizabeth with mary married to the duke of Norfolk
Throckmorton plot (1583)
Aims
Free many queen of scots, restore catholicism and the government thought the target was the life of elizabeth.
What happened
Francis Throckmorton was put under surveillance and the government ordered his arrest.Incriminating papers were found in his house as well a s details of a invasion force throckmorton claimed the plan has not gone any further because money from spain had not arrived .Throckmorton confessed that mary queen of scots knew of the plot but later said otherwise.
Consequences
Elizabeth expelled spanish ambassador and throckmort was executed in 1584. 2 nobles who were involved were arrested one of which commited suicide
Babington plot (1586)
Aims
To murder elizabeth and make mary queen to restore catholicism
What happened
Babington wrote to mary outlining 6 steps to free the county from protestantism.They involved planning for success invasion by spain and freeing mary and the dispatch of the usurper .Elizabeth government has spies in mary’s household who convinced her it was safe to send letters from her house .The letter were interceptor and sent to walsingham.
Consequences
Babington and 2 others were arrested when they attempted to flee and mary queen of scots put on trial and it was recommended that elizabeth sign her death warrant.
Ridolfi plot (1571)
Aims
To overthrow elizabeth,replace elizabeth with mary and restore catholicism to england
What happened
Robert ridolfi met duke of alva. He tried to convince the duke that spanish army could successfully invade england causing english catholics to rebel. A document outlining the plots’ aims was left with the duke of norfolk Alva wrote to philip the 2nd of spain suggesting that they should only invade once elisabeth was overthrown Ridolfi unaware traveled the vatican and then to madrid Elizabeth government successfully unraveled ideas of plot And norfolk servants betrayed him and he was arrested .
Consequences
Duke of norfolk was beheaded in june 16572 Ridolf fled to rome and lived there till his death in 1612 .The spanish ambassador was expelled but relations with spain did not change .Mp but pressure on elizabeth to be harsher on catholics
Why did the spanish Armada happen?
Religious reasons: spain wanted to force England to return to a catholic country
Political rivalry: they both wanted power over europe and north and south america.
England’s involvement in the neverlands: spain wanted to stop england interfering in the Netherlands
Rivalry over trade: England was trying to take over the spanish trade in the Netherlands and Americas
The spanish plan
the armada will sail through the english channel to Calais
-The duke of parma will march his army of 20,000 troops from the netherlands to meet the armada at calais
-Parmas army will be ferried across the calais in barges, protected b y the big ships of the armada
-the spanish forces will land in kent and march into London
-English catholics will rise up against Elizabeth
-Elizabeth will have to surrender and catholicism will be restored in England
What were sports like
Archery and fishing were popular at all levels of society. All classes took part in hunting - the rich hunted deer and hawks and poor people hunted rabbits.
Gambling on the outcome of sports such as bear-baiting, cock-fighting and racing, as well as cards and dice games was frequent
What was entertainment like?
Nobles usually employed household musicians, while the gentry bought songbooks and organised musical evenings
the working and unemployed sang ballads often adding their own words to tunes composed in London.
Storytelling played an important part in the lives of the ordinary people. The invention of the printing press led to popular stories like Robin Hood being published on a mass scale, although gentlemen were more likely to lie their shelves with translations of famous Greek and Roman texts.
How was education
The number of people going to school increased during Elizabeth’s reign.
Some people had enough money to be able to pay for their children’s education.
Different types of education:
Public schools
Petty Schools
Universities (Oxford and Cambridge)
Grammar schools
What were reasons for the increase in poverty
-Poor Harvests, with the worst being in 1556
-Unemployment due to cloth trade collapse
-Rising population
-Inflation
-Debasement of the Coinage
-Closure of the Monasteries, Henry VIII closed the monasteries after the break from Rome
Attitudes towards the poor
Key dates:
Prejudice: Vagabonds Act of 1572 meant that anyone found guilty of being a Vagabond was to be whipped and burnt through the right ear for their first offence. If they reoffended they were sent to prison. Persistent offenders were executed.
Aid:Act for the relief of the poor 1576 meant that Towns were required to find work for able bodied poor. Those refusing to work were sent to house of correction
