Impact Of Economic, Social And Religious Developments In The Early Years Of Eliz Rule

Question 1

3 main problems 1558-63

Answer 1

1561 - inflation due to debasement of currency

1563 - vagabonds, increasing crime

1563 - increasing poverty made worse by bad harvest and inflation and lack of support for deserving poor

Question 2

Elizabethan action

Answer 2

• plan to replace debased coins with soundly minted ones (limited effect)
• statute of artificers (difficult to enforce)
• poor law act (limited impact)

Question 3

Statute of artificers

Answer 3

• sought to fix prices, imposed maximum wages
• made local magistrates responsible for regulating agricultural wages
• established a compulsory 7 year apprenticeship in order to follow a craft

Question 4

Poor law act

Answer 4

• extended previous act of 1555
• laid down fines for those who refused to contribute to poor relief when requested to do so

Question 5

Impact of religious developments 1558-63

Answer 5

Religious settlement clearly Protestant

• queen viewed settlement as an act of state, defined relationship between crown and church
• others (including Cecil and Dudley) believed settlement as starting point for development of a puritan church