Society And Government Flashcards
Who made all the decisions in Elizabethan Society?
The queen made all the decisions
The queen was advised by nobles.
What role did nobles play in Elizabethan Society?
Providing military support and maintaining law and order
Nobles could act as commanders in times of war and were influential in local areas.
How many noble families were there in Elizabethan Society?
About 50 families
Nobles had significant power and influence.
What was the gentry composed of?
Lesser nobles, knights, and lawyers
The gentry gained status by helping local government run smoothly.
How many gentry families existed in Elizabethan Society?
About 10,000 families
They played a role in local governance.
What was the approximate number of wealthy merchant families?
About 30,000 families
Wealthy merchants often built fortunes from trade.
What types of farmers were present in Elizabethan Society?
Yeomen and Tenant farmers
Yeomen owned their land, while Tenant farmers rented land.
How many families were involved in farming?
About 100,000 families
Some farmers could make money from surplus produce.
What was the approximate population ruled by Elizabeth?
About 3 million
Society was hierarchical, with God and the monarch at the top.
What was the largest social class in Elizabethan Society? How many people were a part of it?
Craftspeople, labourers, servants, the poor
This group comprised about 500,000 families.
True or False: Everyone was expected to know their place in the social structure.
True
Each class had a duty of care for the class below.
Fill in the blank: The Elizabethan Society was still based on a _______ society.
rural, agricultural
Wealth was determined by owning land.
What could happen to labourers during bad harvests or trading slumps?
They could easily become destitute
This would lead them to join the ranks of the poor.
What was expected of individuals in relation to the class above them?
To look up to and perform services for the class above
This was part of the societal structure.
Who helped Elizabeth Ito run the country?
Elizabeth’s Government
This refers to the collective institutions and individuals that assisted Elizabeth in governance.
What was the role of the Court in Elizabeth’s government?
Advisors to the monarch and display of wealth and power
The Court was made up of noblemen who acted as the monarch’s advisors and friends.
Who were the members of the Privy Council?
Members of the nobility who helped govern the country
They monitored parliament, Justices of the Peace, and oversaw law and order.
What duties did Justices of the Peace perform?
Kept law and order locally and heard court cases
They were large landowners appointed by the government.
What was the role of Lord Lieutenants?
Governed English counties and raised local militia
They were noblemen appointed by the government.
What two houses made up Parliament?
House of Lords and House of Commons
The House of Lords consisted of noblemen and bishops, while the House of Commons was elected.
True or False: Queen Elizabeth regularly called on Parliament to assist in the running of the country.
False
She did not regularly call upon Parliament.
Who was in charge of parish priests?
Archbishops and bishops
They had oversight over the parish priests.
True or False: The Court and Privy Council were in charge of the Quarter Sessions.
False
Judges were in charge of the Quarter Sessions.
True or False: The lower classes had no say in how the country was governed.
True
The lower classes were not represented in governance.
True or False: The Queen was disassociated from religious activity in England.
False
The Queen was involved in religious activities.
Who were the only ones in charge of constables and overseeing the poor?
Justices of the Peace
However, town councils also had responsibilities in this area.
