England in 1558 Flashcards
What made up Elizabeth’s government?
The court, The Privy Council, Justices of the Peace, Lord Lieutenants, and Parliament made up Elizabeth’s government.
What is meant by the term ‘extraordinary taxation’?
- Extra taxes required to pay for unexpected expenses , especially war.
What is meant by the term ‘Militia’?
A force of ordinary people (not professional soldiers) raised in an emergency.
Who lived in the countryside during this time period?
The nobility, the gentry, the Yeoman farmers, Tenant farmers, the landless and labouring poor, the homeless and vagrants.
Who lived in the towns during this time period?
Merchant, professionals Iawyers, doctors), craftsmen, unskilled labourers an the unemployed.
What were people’s roles in the towns?
Merchants- Traders who were very wealthy.
Business owners- Often highly skilled craftsmen and carpenters.
Craftsmen- Skiled employees including apprentices
Unskilled and the unemployed- People who had no regular work and could not provide for themselves and their families.
What were some problems facing Elizabeth when she became Queen?
. Her government needed money.
. Her legitimacy.
. Catholics refused to acknowledge her right to rule England.
. Elizabeth was protestant and her predecessor, Mary was catholic.
. She was only 21 years old at the time and lacked experience.
. To pass laws, she needed the support of parliament.
. She was unmarried and Christian traditions suggested that women follow men’s authority.
What were some strengths of Elizabeth?
. She was confident and charismatic which enabled her to win over her subjects and command support in parliament.
. She was resilient and could cope with the pressures of being Queen.
. She was well educated as she spoke 4 other languages; Latin, Greek, French and Italian.
. She had an excellent grasp in politics.
. The number of protestants were growing making her making her position as queen more secure.
What were some financial issues Elizabeth faced when she became queen?
. The crown was £300,000 in debt and had an annual income of only £286, 667
. Elizabeth needed money to remain secure on her throne.
. Mary Tudor had sold off Crown lands to pay for wars in France, so the Crown’s income from rents was falling.
What were some ways in which the monarchs could raise money?
. Rents and income from their own lands.
. Taxes from trade.
. Loans
. Profits of justice (fines, property or lands from people convicted of crimes.
What is meant by the term ‘inflation’?
Inflation is where prices rise. This happened during this time period because coins were worth less, so people changed more for what they sold.
What could Elizabeth do to solve her financial problems in 1558?
. She could raise taxes to boost the Crown’s income
. To do this she could ask parliament for special additional taxes.
. However, additional taxes would be unpopular with ordinary people, increasing the risk of unrest.
. She could have improved the quality of money by increasing the gold and silver content in the coinage.
What did Elizabeth do to solve her financial problems in 1558?
. She did not raise taxes but instead hoarded her income and cut her household expenses by half.
. Like her predecessors, she sold Crown lands, raising £120,000
When did the Crown officially become out of debt?
. By 1574, the queen (Elizabeth) could claim that the Crown was out of debt for the first time since 1558.
What were some challenges abroad in 1558?
. The French threat. . The Auld Alliance. . War was an expensive business. . France ended its war with Spain. . England had lost Calais to France.
