England In 1558 Flashcards
What was the government made up of?
The queen
Justices of the peace
The court
Parliament
Lord lieutenants
Privy council
What was the privy council?
19 members of the nobility who met everyday and advised Elizabeth
What were justices of the peace?
Land owners who maintained local law and order
What were lord lieutenants?
Noblemen who governed counties and raised local militia
What was the government made up of?
House of Lords and House of Commons
What was the population in 1558?
2.8 million
What % of the population lived in towns and cities?
10%
What % lived in the countryside?
90%
What was the population of London
Around 100000
What jobs did people in the countryside have?
farmers, growing enough for themselves or enough to sell
What jobs did people in towns have?
Worked in growing industries, like the wool and cloth trade
What were Elizabeth’s main weaknesses
Unmarried
Protestant
Debts
Illegitimate
Woman
Why did Elizabeth’s marriage cause a problem?
Didn’t have an heir, France and Spain were ruled by kings and were powerful, so needed a male to rule alongside her
What was the problem with Elizabeth’s legitimacy?
The pope had refused to recognise Anne and Henry’s marriage, therefore the catholics (most of the world) didn’t see her as a legitimate heir
What were Elizabeth’s main strengths?
Protestant (fresh start)
Intelligent and well spoken
English parents
Single (free from foreign influences)
What were the main problems Elizabeth inherited?
French threat, Mary qos and financial weakness
What were the financial weaknesses Elizabeth inherited?
Mary left the crown in around £250000 of debt
She sold off crown lands to fund wars, so there was less income from rents
1540s-> crown had devalued the coinage by reducing its silver and gold content, so there was inflation
War with France was likely, but unaffordable
What was the French threat
Mary married to heir of French throne, threatened from both sides
Pressure to retake Calais, last mainland Europe territory
Spain and France, catholic
Why was mary qos a threat?
Legitimate queen
Married
Catholic
how did Elizabeth deal with the challenges faced?
signed Peace of Troyes
Sold off crown lands and cut expenses to avoid tax increase
