1.1 - Elizabeth's Accession to the Throne Flashcards
(26 cards)
Who were Elizabeth’s parents?
Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn
Social hierarchy in Elizabethan England
Nobility
Gentry
Yeomen - owned a small amount of land or estate
Tenant Farmers - farmed rented land, owned by yeomen or gentry
Landless
Vagrants and Homeless
Social hierarchy of towns in Elizabethan England
Merchants
Professionals - lawyers, clergy, doctors
Skilled craftsmen
Unskilled workers
Unemployed
In Elizabethan England, there was very little social ________.
mobility
Elizabeth’s government: Justices of the Peace (JPs)
Large landowners who kept law and order in their area,
Reported to the Privy Council but were unpaid.
Very popular job - position of status.
Heard county court cases for serious crimes and made sure all local and economic policies were carried out - part of local government.
Elizabeth’s government: Lord Lieutenant
Each country had a Lord Lieutenant chosen by the monarch.
Part of the nobility and usually the Privy Council.
In charge of raising and training the local militia and oversaw defences.
Part of local government - oversaw the enforcement of policies.
Elizabeth’s government: Privy Council
Made up of leading courtiers and advisers - nobles and senior government issues.
Chosen by the monarch.
Met at least thrice a week and attended meeting presided over by the monarch.
Monitored Jps/parliment decisions
Made sure the queen’s final decisions were carried out.
Debated current issues and advised the queen on government policy.
Oversaw law and order, local government and security of England.
Elizabeth’s government: Parliament
Made of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It could only be called by the Queen.
Elections were held before each new parliament but few ppl could vote.
Called 10 times during her reign.
Granted extraordinary taxation/ passed laws/ offered advice to the monarch.
Elizabeth’s government: Court
Body of people who lived in, or near the same palace or house as the monarch.
Made up of nobility.
Monarch’s key servants and advisers.
Entertained and advised the monarch - a public display of wealth and power.
Courtiers had influence with the monarch rather than political power.
Monarchs of England believed that they had the right to rule by…
the grace of God
What was patronage?
To provide someone with an important job or position in order to gain their support - the queen was the ultimate patron - offered patronage to Francis Drake for example.
Who was William Cecil?
Member of the privy council and secretary of state: she was closest to him and he was her number one adviser on matters important to the crown and personal.
How could a monarch raise money?
Raising extraordinary taxation - could only be done with parliament’s agreement.
What was the royal prerogative?
The Royal Prerogative was the set of powers that only the monarch (Elizabeth I) could use without needing Parliament’s approval.
Key powers under the royal prerogative:
- Control over foreign policy
- Declaring war or making peace
- Handling alliances and treaties
- Choosing ambassadors - Religion
- As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Elizabeth controlled religious policy - Choosing ministers and advisors
- Elizabeth appointed and dismissed members of the Privy Council (her most trusted advisors) - Summoning and dismissing Parliament
- She decided when Parliament met and could dissolve it
What did Elizabeth forbid parliament from discussing?
In the 1570s–80s, some MPs tried to discuss Elizabeth’s succession and marriage in Parliament, but she stopped them using her royal prerogative, insisting those were matters for the Crown alone, not Parliament.
Why was Elizabeth’s legitimacy questioned?
According to the Catholics who did not believe in divorce, they viewed Henry’s marriage to Ann as illegitimate, since he was still married to Catherine of Aragon. Thus, they said that Elizabeth was born out of wed lock.
What did people want Elizabeth to do and why?
To marry and have children:
- ensure that the monarchy would remain stable with an heir.
- women needed a man to guide them and help her rule.
- there could be conflict between rival claimants.
Financial Weaknesses in 1558: the crown was in debt
England was in over £300 000 debt, and over £100 000 of this was owed to foreign lenders. These loans had been high interest.
England had fought costly wars before she became queen and lots of crown land had been sold off to raise money to fight the wars.
Why was the crown in debt?
- fought costly wars
- sold crown land to wage war
- had debased the coinage in the 1540s (decreased silver and gold in coins) which resulted in inflation.
Why did Elizabeth need to money?
She was viewed as illegitimate, and there was a risk of being overthrown - needed money to establish her empire, to reward her supporters, to invest in military and fund the development of her country.
What could Elizabeth do to solve her financial problems?
- raise taxes to boost the Crown’s income - this would be effective but potentially unpopular with the public.
- Improve quality of money - increase gold and silver in coinage - people would struggle to exchange all older coins for new ones, and there’d be a difference in the value of money in circulation.
Challenges abroad: The French threat
France was wealthier than England and had a bigger population.
Elizabeth’s cousin Mary was married to the french king Francis II. Mary had a strong claim to the english throne and catholics might rally to her if the French invaded.
The auld alliance - France had an alliance with Scotland - Mary of Guise, ruled Scotland for Mary, and kept French soldiers there.
Both catholic powers could ally against England.
Challenges abroad: Calais
Under the treaty of Cateau-Cambresis - England lost calais to france. This was England’s last remaining territory on the continent, and there was pressure on Elizabeth to regain it. However, war with France would be expensive and dangerous.
