The Situation on Elizabeth's Accession

Question 1

Describe the Importance of the Social Hierarchy in Elizabethan England

Answer 1

-Elizabethan England was often a violent and dangerous place. As there was no police force or permanent army, keeping order relied upon a clear social hierarchy in which everyone knew their place.

-Equality was not something of importance to Elizabethans. In fact, society, government and law were based on inequality.

-In Elizabethan society, people owed respect and obedience to those above them and had a duty of care to those below.

-Households were run along similar lines. The husband and father was the lead of the household. His wife and children and any servants were expected to be obedient to him.

Question 2

Describe the Social Structure of Elizabethan England

Answer 2

-The monarch was at the top of the social scale as the most important member of the nobility, followed by the rest of the nobility and the gentry.

-A person’s place in the hierarchy often depended on how much land they had and whether they owned or rented it.

-About 90% of the population lived and worked in the countryside. Yeomen were people who held a small amount of land or an estate.

-Tenant farmers rented land, which was usually owned by yeomen or the gentry.

Question 3

Describe the Social Structure of Towns in Elizabethan England

Answer 3

-In towns, the hierarchy was based on wealth and occupation. Wealthy merchants were at the top, followed by professionals such as lawyers and doctors.

-Next were skilled craftsmen such as silversmiths, glovers, carpenters or tailors. who could be quite wealthy business owners.

-They organised themselves into guilds, which were trade associations to monitor standards, working conditions and who were allowed to practice the trade.

-Craftsmen were skilled employees and also included apprentices. Unskilled labourers and the unemployed came at the bottom of society.

Question 4

Describe the Role of the Nobility in Elizabethan Society

Answer 4

-The nobility were the most important members of society, second only to the monarch. They held titles such as Duke or Lord which were passed from father to son.

-The nobility owned large amounts of land which was rented out to provide income.

-Elizabethan nobles earned an average income of £6,000 a year (£1 million today).

-They were often also a part of government although their power could be removed the queen.

Question 5

Describe the Role of the Gentry in Elizabethan Society

Answer 5

-The gentry lived by renting out their land in the countryside. Their wealth depended on the amount of land they owned and what other business they were involved in.

-The gentry earned, on average, around £200 a year (£34,000) today.

-They often had titles such as knight or esquire and held positions of power such as Justice of the Peace or being a Member of Parliament.

Question 6

Describe the Role of the Peasants in Elizabethan Society

Answer 6

-The peasants were the poorest members of Elizabethan society and life was often challenging, with the situation becoming worse as the population grew.

-The peasants were made up of the yeomanry, who owned their land or worked as servants to the nobility, and tenant farmers, who rented land.

-Peasants would work the land and pay rent to their landlord (a member of the gentry or nobility). They often lived on the edge of starvation.

Question 7

Describe the Role of the Court in the Elizabethan Government

Answer 7

-The court was a body of people who lived in or near the same palace or house as the monarch.

-The court was mostly made up if members of the nobility. They were the monarch’s key servants, advisors and friends.

-Attending court required the monarch’s permission.

-The court entertained and advised the monarch. It was a public display of wealth and power.

-Courtiers had influence with the monarch rather than actual power.

Question 8

Describe the Role of the Privy Council in the Elizabethan Government

Answer 8

-The Privy Council was made up of leading courtiers and advisors, as well as nobles and very senior government officials.

-There were 19 members on the Privy Council chosen by the monarch. The most important member was the Secretary of State who advised the queen on matters important to the Crown.

-They met at least three times a week, and the meetings were often attended and presided over by the monarch.

-They debated current issues and advised the monarch on government policy. They made sure the monarch’s financial decisions were carried out.

-They oversaw law and order, local government and the security of England. They monitored the proceedings of parliament and Justices of the Peace.

Question 9

Describe the Role of Parliament in the Elizabethan Government

Answer 9

-Parliament was made up of the House of Lords (which included bishops) and the House of Commons.

-Parliament could only be called and dismissed by the monarch. Elizabeth I called parliament ten times during her reign.

-Elections were held before each new parliament but very few people could vote.

-Parliament granted extraordinary taxation, passed laws (Acts of Parliament) and offered advice to the monarch.

Question 10

Describe the Role of the Lords Lieutenant in the Elizabethan Government

Answer 10

-Each county had a Lord Lieutenant chosen by the monarch. They were members of the nobility and were often also on the Privy Council.

-They were essential to maintaining the monarch’s power and England’s defences. They were in charge of raising and training the local militia and overseeing county defences.

-They were part of the local government and oversaw the enforcement of policies.

Question 11

Describe the Role of Justices of the Peace in the Elizabethan Government

Answer 11

-Justices of the Peace were large landowners who kept law and order in their local areas. They were unpaid and they reported to the Privy Council.

-Being a Justice of the Peace was a position of status and so was a very popular job.

-They were part of the local government and made sure all social and economic policies were carried out.

-They also heard county court cases every three months for more serious crimes.

Question 12

Describe the Role of the Monarch in Elizabethan England

Answer 12

-The Elizabethan government centred around the monarch. The monarch believed they had the right to rule ‘by the grace of God’ (divine right).

-Because of this, Elizabeth I made government policy, making all the important decisions with the help of the Privy Council.

-The monarch declared war and made peace as well as calling and dismissing parliament. They could agree to or reject any laws.

-The monarch also ruled in some legal cases, for example if the law was unclear or of people appealed a judgement.

The monarch granted titles, land, money and jobs. This was called patronage and was a very effective way of getting support from some people and controlling them. She could also remove gifts.

Question 13

Describe the Role of the Secretary of State in Elizabethan England

Answer 13

-Elizabeth’s most important Privy Councillor was her Secretary of State.

-He was the person in government that she was closest to, and advised the queen on matters most important to the Crown.

-The most significant person to hold this position was Sir William Cecil, who held the position until 1573. After him, the position was held by Sir Francis Walsingham.

Question 14

Describe the Relationship Between Parliament and the Monarch in Elizabethan England

Answer 14

-Raising extraordinary taxation could only be done with parliament’s agreement so it was not possible to govern effectively without parliament.

-The queen could issue proclamations but these could not enforced in law courts. Acts of Parliament could however so important policies were presented to parliament for approval.

-It was very rare that parliament would vote against what the monarch wanted.

-There were some areas only the monarch had the right to decide upon called the royal prerogative. It was their right to stop parliament discussing any issues they didn’t want to talk about.

-The most important of these included marriage, succession and foreign policy.

Question 15

Describe Elizabeth I’s Character and Strengths

Answer 15

-Elizabeth I was highly intelligent and well educated, with an excellent grasp of politics. She spoke Latin, French, Greek and Italian.

-She had experienced being a prisoner in the Tower of London, where she was held until 1554 on suspicion of treason.

-She understood the dangers of court politics, where ambitious courtiers schemed to gain power and influence.

-Elizabeth I was confident and charismatic, able to make great speeches to win over her subjects, though she had a temper that people feared.

-She often took a long time to make decisions, especially over serious matters, and her Privy Council and advisors could find her extremely frustrating.

Question 16

Explain how Elizabeth I’s Legitimacy Posed a Challenge to her on her Accession

Answer 16

-Elizabeth I’s legitimacy was in doubt because of how her father, Henry VIII had divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in order to marry Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn.

-Committed Catholics refused to acknowledge henry’s divorce because the Pope had not agreed to it.

-Catherine of Aragon was alive when Elizabeth was born so not everyone accepted that Elizabeth was legitimate. Some Catholics were even executed for refusing to accept her legitimacy.

-In 1536, when Anne Boleyn was executed for treason, Henry VIII himself declared Elizabeth illegitimate and excluded her from the succession. However, he later reversed this decision.

Question 17

Explain how Elizabeth I’s Gender Posed a Challenge to her on her Accession

Answer 17

-A queen who ruled alone seemed unnatural in the 16th century. It was unusual for a woman to be in a position of power.

-Christianity taught that women should be under the authority of men and monarchs were expected to lead their army into battle.

-Women were not considered to be physically, mentally or emotionally capable of governing.

-This prejudice was not helped by Mary I’s reign. As England’s first queen regnant, her short reign had not gone well.

-For example, there had been several bad harvests leading to disease, hunger and poverty and England was left in debt.

Question 18

Explain how Elizabeth I’s Virginity Posed a Challenge to her on her Accession

Answer 18

-People also thought Elizabeth I should marry but she had no intention of doing so and turned down offers from the most eligible princes.

-A potential husband could fulfil the monarch’s role of military leader.

-However, the only man of a suitable rank for her would be a foreign prince but he would put England’s needs second to his own country’s.

-Having children would also solve the problem of succession and ensure stability as there would be no need for conflict between rival claimants.

-However, a husband would be seen as having authority over Elizabeth so she would be side-lined.

Question 19

Explain how Financial Weakness Posed a Challenge to Elizabeth on her Accession

Answer 19

-England’s monarch could not do whatever they pleased. They might have ruled by divine right, but they needed money and support to rule successfully.

-Taxes could raise money but they were unpopular and parliament had to agree to them. In return, they could make demands on Elizabeth so she did not want to rely on them for income.

-England’s government did not have a lot of money as England had fought costly wars before Elizabeth became queen and lots of Crown lands had been sold off to to raise money to fight them.

-When Elizabeth took the throne in 1558, England was £300,000 in debt. In contrast, the annual income of the crown was £286,667.

Question 20

Explain how the French Threat Posed a Challenge to Elizabeth on her Accession

Answer 20

-France was wealthier and had a larger population than England. It was also England’s traditional enemy and was an ally of England’s other enemy, Scotland, called the Auld Alliance.

-There was an added complication for Elizabeth, the Scottish monarch Mary, Queen of Scots was her cousin and had a strong claim to the English throne.

-She was also half French and married to Francis, heir to the French throne. She became queen of France in 1559 when her husband became King Francis II.

Question 21

Explain how the Scottish Threat Posed a Challenge to Elizabeth on her Accession

Answer 21

-Mary, Queen of Scots declared herself the legitimate Catholic claimant to the English throne when Mary I died.

-Mary, Queen of Scots was Elizabeth’s second cousin and the granddaughter of Henry VIII.

-Catholics who had not accepted Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn could rally to Mary, Queen of Scots’ claim to be England’s legitimate, Catholic monarch.

-Scotland was an independent country and traditional enemy of England. England’s border with Scotland was remote and hard to defend, which meant it saw constant fighting and raids.

-In 1558, Mary’s mother, Mary of Guise was ruling Scotland for her daughter and had French troops stationed there.

Question 22

Explain how the Problem of Calais Posed a Challenge to Elizabeth on her Accession

Answer 22

-England had held the French port of Calais since 1347. It was useful as it meant that England had a military base in France. It was also an important trading post.

-In the 1550s, England had sided with Spain in a war against France as Mary I was married to the Spanish king. In 1559, the conflict ended with the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis.

-Under this treaty, England had to return Calais to France. The English were humiliated by this loss and so regaining Calais was an important aim of Elizabeth’s foreign policy.

-By regaining Calais, Elizabeth could right the mistake of Mary I. She could also reclaim some of the glory enjoyed by past monarchs who had successfully held Calais as an English outpost.

Question 23

Explain how Religion Posed a Challenge to Elizabeth on her Accession

Answer 23

-Elizabeth was also concerned that France and Spain were no longer at war. Although the two powers were rivals, they were both Catholic countries.

-Countries took their monarch’s religion and Elizabeth was Protestant. Protestants were Christians but did not agree with Catholics on certain issues surrounding the faith.

-Divisions between Protestants and Catholics were already causing conflict in Europe. There was a real possibility that Catholic France and Spain could unite against England and its Protestant queen.