English Society and Queen Elizabeth I Flashcards
How was English Society constructed during the Stuart dynasty?
What was the role of the Justices of Peace (JPs)?
Part of the elite gentry enforcing the law and order of the country - it was unpaid and honourable to have.
What was the King of England?
Head of the state who determined the policies in the government. He had many privileges and resolved issues that were not under the law, sometimes had to approved by Parliament
What was the Royal Court and Privy Council?
Revolved around the King and was the house with all important members around it
Privy Council was the King’s advisors and had big influences on decisions
What was the role of Parliament during Stuarts?
They irregularly met due to the fact that the King had a prerogative that he could open and dissolve parliament at any time (until Triennial Act 1641)
Elected by wealthy landowners - undemocratic
Commoners paid towards the crown
House of Lords was full of unelected nobles and bishops - “peers”
What was the Great Chain of Being Belief?
The Hierarchy that consisted of God, Angels, Humanity and Nature that was popular at the time.
What was the Class system like and why was it hard to move classes?
The Class System was Kings, Lords, Knights, Serfs (Peasants)
It was hard to move due to limited access and class over merit (opposite to the New Model Army approach during Civil War)
What was the Legacy of Queen Elizabeth like? -
Robert Cecil (who would later become LT to James) was a trusted advisor
She had a reputation of a Golden Age of England due to cultural advancements during her reign and she defeated the Spanish in the Spanish Armada in 1588 - claimed God was responsible for victory
What was the context towards religion before James’ time?
Elizabeth ended divisions between prev. monarchs and had 2 acts passed in 1558 and 59 - Act of Supremacy and Uniformity respectively
AS58 re-established CofE independence to Catholicism
Monarch was supreme governor of the CofE
All were to use the Book of Common Prayer
She stabilised Catholics and Protestants.
What was finance like during Elizabeth I time?
Had undervalued tax luxuries and subsidies which lost vital money
Inflation was severe during 1590s - income not aligned with inflation
Had costly wars vs Spain and Eire
What was her relations with Parliament?
Subsidies declined because MPs were unhappy
MPs complained about the taxation in 1601 because they were conservative and wanted tax cuts etc
Complained about monopolies.
What was some issues regarding the heir?
Cecil believed James VI of Alba was the heir
Never publicly accepted by Elizabeth
There were negotiations with Cecil and James in 1601
