The Last Years of Elizabeth Flashcards
Problems with politics by 1603
Decline in Royal authority since the 1590s due to anxieties over the succession and political factions within Liz’s council- culminating with the Essex rebellion (1601)
Essentially by 1603- royal authority was facing difficulties
Successes of Politics
Only a small minority of militant Catholics
Most of England was loyal to the crown
Broad political unity had been achieved by 1603
Golden Speech of 1601
Impact of Liz ruling for 44 years
People thought she had reigned too long
her reputation was being tarnished by events of her later reign (Essex)
Seemed out of touch with the younger generation who wanted a King
Long term impacts of economy
early forms of economic circumstances that would lead to English commercial domination eg trading companies set up which challenged Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese trade
Period in which the interest in America began
HOWEVER, all English trade groups were rather rudimentary in comparison
Industries that grew
Cottage industries (like hosiery, soap and nail making and brewing)
Production rose by a lot
Implies that the domestic demand was thriving
Conditions for workers by 1603
in order to avoid poverty, it was common to work hard in multiple employments and thrift (second hand)
State of Society by 1603
Big rich/poor divide however society did not break down entirely due to the fact that (during most of Liz’s reign) the country could feed itself (John Guy)
Subsistence Crisis and what is resulted in
During the poverty and harvest failures between 1594-97 the only know deaths by starvation were recorded (in Liz’s reign)
This thus impacted the following Poor Laws of 1598 and 1601 which limited the worst effects of poverty (but only for the “deserving” poor)
What was unique about English society during Liz’s reign
the nobility were subject to taxation
Evidence for Religious unity
Puritanism had faded and most were now mainstream Anglicans
Separatism had pretty much disappeared
Level of popular religion had decline (most Catholics were torn between they loyalty to the crown and their religion HOWEVER a small minority identified with Liz’s excommunication and sought a catholic succession)
Impact of religious unity
the church of England had become an institution in which majority could identify with
(England was in a favourable religious state)
