Queen, government and religion 1558-69 Flashcards
Give one reason why Elizabeth’s gender was a problem.
The belief that women were weak- made England vulnerable to invasion
Concerns over who she would marry- the man would have a lot of power
Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) was a bad ruler before Elizabeth
Why was religion a problem for Elizabeth when she became queen?
England had been through years of religious change and turmoil. The country was still split between Catholics and Protestants.
Why was Elizabeth’s legitimacy questioned by some in England?
-Henry VIII had declared Elizabeth illegitimate soon after he executed her mother.
-Catholics do not recognise divorce so believed Henrys VIII’s marriage with Anne Boleyn was not legitimate.
From which country did Elizabeth face the most serious threat of invasion when she became queen in 1558?
France
Which body had to be consulted if Tudor monarchs wanted more money?
Parliament
How many times did Parliament meet during Elizabeth’s 45-year reign?
13
What was the name of the body of Elizabeth’s advisers?
The Privy Council
How many men sat on the Privy Council?
19
What was the name given to the growing middle class?
The gentry. Cecil was a member of the gentry.
How much debt did Elizabeth inherit when she became queen?
£300,000
What were two of Elizabeth’s aims regarding religion?
- To heal the division between Protestants and Catholics to avoid Civil War
- To maximise her personal power by taking as much control over the church as possible
Who was Sir Francis Walsingham?
He was a close advisor of Elizabeth and her spymaster.
Who was Robert Dudley the Earl of Leicester?
Leading Nobleman, advisor and favourite of Elizabeth.
What did Elizabeth do in 1559 to solve the issue of religious division?
The Religious Settlement. Also known as the Middle Way.
Name two features of the Act of Supremacy, 1559
-To re-establish the break from Rome
-and an independent Church of England -and all clergy members had to swear an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth.
-Elizabeth was the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This meant that the Catholics could still recognize the Pope as the head of the Church.
-However, as a compromise with the archbishops and bishops being kept, it was hoped would please Catholics.
Name two features of the Act of Uniformity, 1559
Catholic mass was abandoned
the Bible was written in England (to please Protestants).
-Ornaments such as crosses and candles could be placed on the communion table
-Priests had to wear traditional-style Vestments (to please Catholics).
-Clergy were allowed to marry.
-Failure to attend church meant you could be fined.
How were the two Acts (Supremacy and Uniformity) viewed at the time?
The majority were happy but Puritans and extreme Catholics thought it gave too much away to ‘the other side’.
Geographically, where was Catholicism strongest in England?
North East and North West.
What is a Puritan?
An English Protestant that wanted to further simplify the Church of England and remove anything related to Catholicism.
What was the impact of the religious settlement on the Clergy?
8,000 priests took the oath of supremacy showing their support for the Acts introduced.
However, only 1 bishop took the oath so 27 new bishops were appointed.
Name two features of the Crucifix controversy
Elizabeth wanted crucifixes in churches. Puritans did not like crucifixes.
Several Puritan Bishops threatened to resign, there were not enough replacement bishops so the Queen backed down and removed crucifixes from the church.
Name two features of the Vestment controversy
Elizabeth wanted priests to wear special vestments (clothes) but many Puritan priests refused. A special exhibition was held in London to show what vestments they should wear. Of the 110 priests invited 37 refused to attend. They lost their post. Elizabeth won this battle.
How did the pope challenge Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement, and what was the impact of this?
He issued a statement in 1566 that Catholics should not attend protestant church services. This had virtually no impact.
What proportion of the nobility was Catholic?
1/3
