Society and Government Flashcards
What was the social hierarchy of Elizabethan England countryside (high to low)?
(6)
- Nobility
- Gentry
- Yeomen
- Tenant farmers
- Landless or labouring poor
- Vagrants, homeless
How was social hierarchy determined?
It was usually determined by how much land you had and whether you owned or rented it.
What was the social hierarchy of towns in Elizabethan England?
(5)
- Merchants (usually owned lots of property)
- Professionals (lawyers, doctors, teachers, clergy etc)
- Business owners (usually highly skilled craftsmen that employed others. Included silversmiths, carpenters, tailors etc.
- Skilled craftsmen (people who had learned a skill or trade.Included apprentices)
- Unskilled workers and the unemployed
What were the five key parts of the Government in Elizabethan England?
- Court
- Privy council
- Parliament
- Lords Lieutenant
- Justices of the Peace
What were the key features of the court?
- They were a body of people who lived near the same palace or house of the monarch
- Mainly consisted of the nobility (monarch’s key servants, advisers and friends)
- Attending court required the monarch’s permission
What was the role of the court?
- To entertain and advise the monarch
- To publicly display wealth and power
- Courtiers (usually members of the nobility who spent most their lives with Elizabeth I) had to influence with the Queen rather than actual power
What were the key features of the Privy Council?
- Made up of leading courtiers, advisers, nobles and senior government officials
- Approximately 19 members on the Privy Council selected by the monarch
- They met at least three times a week and were often attended and presided by the Queen
What was the role of the Privy Council? (5)
- To monitor the Justices of Peace
- To monitor the proceedings of Parliament
- To oversee law and order, local government and the security of England
- Make sure the monarch’s final decisions were carried out
- To debate current issues and advise the monarch on government policy
What were the key features of parliament?
- Made up of House of Lords (which includes bishops) and House of Commons
- Could only be called and dismissed by the monarch
- Elections were held before each new parliament but few people could vote
- Elizabeth called parliament ten times during her reign
What was the role of parliament?
- To grant extraordinary taxation (additional tax to pay for unexpected expenses like war)
- Pass laws (Act of Parliament)
- Offer advice to monarch
What were the key features of a Lord Lieutenant?
- Chosen by the Queen
- Members of the nobility and often the Privy Council
- Essential in maintaining the monarch’s power and England’s defences
What were the roles of a Lord Lieutenant?
- Part of the local government
- For overseeing the enforcement of policies
- In charge of raising and training local militia (military force of ordinary people, usually raised in an emergency) and overseeing county defences
What were the key features of the Justices of Peace?
who were they, were they paid?
- JoPs were large landowners who kept law and order in their local area.
- They were unpaid and reported to the Privy Council.
- It was a position of status so it was a very popular job
What were the roles of the Justices of peace?
- To make sure all social and economic policies were carried out
- Part of the local government
- To hear county court cases every three months for more serious crimes
