Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Tudors > Elizabeth I > Flashcards

Elizabeth I Flashcards

(84 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Sum up Elizabeth’s character in three words?

A

shrewd; sophisticated/well-educated; survivor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What key problems did Elizabeth inherit from her half-sister Mary I?

A

religious division; economic issues; war with France

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What were Elizabeth’s three early aims for her reign?

A

Consolidate her power; religious compromise; resolve Calais.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What early political steps did Elizabeth take to consolidate her position as queen and what was the significance/impact of each? [3 areas - appointments, customs and coronation]

A

Appointments – William Cecil, kept others waiting to ensure loyalty

Customs – showed herself at the Tower of London, encouraged pageants

Coronation – swift and within 2 months.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

From which people/groups did Elizabeth receive early acknowledgement/support for her position as queen? [3 people/groups]

A

Mary I on her deathbed; Mary I’s minister; Phillip II of Spain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why did Elizabeth want to change the country’s religion yet again? [3 reasons]

A

Her claim to the throne was based on the Break with Rome and the Reformation (allowed Henry VIII to marry her mother, Anne Boleyn)

Her Protestant beliefs

Wanted to show a break with her sister’s reign and stability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What were the three main laws of her Religious Settlement and what did each put into action?

A

Act of Supremacy; gov of church, visitations
Act of Uniformity; mass meaning
Royal Injunctionspilgramages relics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What concessions did Elizabeth make to Catholics as part of her Religious Settlement? Why did she do this

A

Although Prayer Book based on 1553 Book of Edward VI’s reign, allowed more flexible interpretation of the Eucharist (bread and wine)

Supreme Governor of Church

Latin allowed for Requiem Service

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How did the Religious Settlement help to consolidate Elizabeth’s position in her early reign?

A

Allowed a compromise which moderates on both sides could accept

Less likely to rebel / to be enforced – visitations and fines.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was the impact of her Religious Settlement in the short-term?

A

General acceptance/conformity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What issue did the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis of 1559 resolve? How did this help Elizabeth to consolidate her position?

A

Issue of Calais. Brought peace with France and reduced expense.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why did Elizabeth get involved with Scotland? [think situation in Scotland as well as Cecil]

A

Growing French influence (Mary Queen of Scots married to King of France)

Request for help from Scottish Protestants – Lords of Congregation

Cecil persuaded her to get involved.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What was the nature of English involvement?

A

Money and weapons initially

Navy sent, then army.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What was the outcome?

A

Siege a deadlock, but then storms caught the French ships. Mary of Guise also died as did the King of France.

Protestant Lords of Congregation became rulers of Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots returned but not powerful.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How did the outcome help consolidate Elizabeth’s position as queen? [2 reasons]

A

Protestant neighbours – reduced threat from France

Mary Queen of Scots (next in line to English throne) reduced in influence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why did Elizabeth then get involved with France?

A

French Protestants (Huguenots) asked for help in their war against French Catholics.

Dudley persuaded her.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was the nature of English involvement?

A

Sent army under Dudley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What was the outcome?

A

Both Protestant and Catholic sides lost their leaders – stalemate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What impact did the outcome have on Elizabeth’s position as queen?

A

Broke Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis so lost Calais for good.

Not keen to get involved in other foreign conflicts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What issues did Elizabeth inherit from Mary I?

A

Debasement, sweating sickness & poor harvest caused population reduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

In terms of her consolidation of power, why was it important to tackle these issues?

A

Stability/reduced risk of rebellion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What steps did central government take to tackle the issues? [currency, Poor Relief & Artificers]

A

Currency re-minted

Poor Relief attempted across county

Statute of Artificer – attempted to control/limit wages and terms for apprentices

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How successful were they at tackling the issues in terms of impact?

A

Local issues more successful

Statute hard to enforce across country

Currency more stable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What evidence can historians use to argue that the mid-Tudor Crisis carried on into Elizabeth’s early reign?

A

No early marriage or heir to secure succession. Young, female queen

Religious and economic issues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What evidence can be used to argue the situation had stabilised?   
Religious and economic issues being dealt with  No rebellion  Power consolidated
26
What were the main components of central Elizabethan government?
Court; (Privy) Council; Parliament; Household and Privy Chamber; Chancery and courts.    
27
What was factional rivalry?
Rival groups in a wider political body.  
28
Who did the factions generally surround at the beginning and then end of the reign? 
  William Cecil (later Lord Burghley) vs Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester); Robert Cecil vs Robert Devereux (Earl of Essex).     
29
What key issues divided the Council into factions? 
Mary Queen of Scots; marriage; support for Dutch Protestants; War with Spain 
30
How did Elizabeth I control her Council?
Patronage; participated in discussions; kept notes; consulted others; displayed anger and affection; stalling for time e.g. 7 years to get involved with Netherlands.    
31
What examples were there that Elizabeth I was not in control of her Council ministers? 
Manipulated by W Cecil to support Protestant Lords of Congregation in Scotland; persuaded by Dudley to support French Huguenots; MQS death warrant sent without her final permission; 1590s more rivalry and old ministers dead; Essex Rebellion.   
32
When did she deal very firmly with her ministers?
Execution of Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Essex; Davison punished for MQS.  
33
How many times did Parliament meet during Elizabeth I’s reign?  
13 times in 44 years
34
What was parliments role? 
Pass laws and grant extraordinary revenue:  ‘a necessary evil’.  
35
What were the most common issues for the calling of Parliament?
Queen needed money for war from 11/13 sittings; MQS & security against plots; pass religious and poor laws.  
36
Over which parliamentary issues did Elizabeth I relent?
MQS death warrant; 1601 final Parliament due to quadruple subsidy and monopolies – Golden Speech.   
37
Why ultimately did Elizabeth I have control over Parliament? 
  She called it and could dismiss whenever she wanted; royal veto.    
38
How else did she control parliment?   
Moderate policies to isolate extremists; arrests e.g. Peter Wentworth x2; Golden Speech; Council Ministers acted as floor managers.     
39
Why was the succession issue complicated?  
Henry VIII’s Succession Act of 1544 unclear and not signed personally.     
40
Who were the possible suitors for Elizabeth I?
Dudley, Phillip II, Prince Erik of Sweden; Duke Francois of Anjou and Alencon.  
41
Why did Elizabeth I chose not to marry?
Did not want to give up any power; political influence; religion, personal feelings.   
42
Why was Mary Queen of Scots such a danger?   
  Next in line and Catholic; plots; pro-France.     
43
What plots was Mary Queen of Scots involved with, including their dates?
Northern Rebellion 1569; Ridolfi 1571; Throckmorton 1583; Babington 1586.    
44
How can you argue Mary Queen of Scots posed a threat to Elizabeth I?
next in line while Elizabeth had no children; Spanish and French backing; more threatening after excommunication in 1571.  
45
How can you argue she wasn’t a threat? 
Stuarts not included in 1544 Succession Act; Catholics scandalised by MQS’ behaviour; Spain and France busy elsewhere; plots all discovered/encouraged and crushed.   
46
What were the aims of Elizabeth I’s foreign policy? 
  National security (Scottish border; Ireland; English Channel) and trade.   
47
After early foreign policy 1558 to 1564, what were the main ‘phases’ of her foreign policy?
1568 to 1572 – growing hostility with Spain; conflict with Spain in the Netherlands 1572 to 1585; direct attack from the Armada 1585 to 1588; 1588 to 1603 continued conflict with Spain at sea and on land. 
48
Why did relations between England and Spain deteriorate from 1568 to 1572?
John Hawkins; Elizabeth impounding Spanish ships; Phillip’s growth in power in Netherlands; Phillip getting involved in Northern Rebellion and Ridolfi plots. 
49
Why did Elizabeth I eventually get involved in the Netherlands in 1585? 
After she accidentally triggered the Dutch Revolt in 1572 against Spanish domination, the Spanish backed Catholic southern provinces had taken all but 2 provinces in the northern Protestant Netherlands by 1585. She signed the Treaty of Nonsuch with the Dutch Protestant rebels and sent Dudley!    
50
Why was this unsuccessful?
Dudley fell out with northern Dutch generals.   
51
Why did Phillip II send the Armada to attack England in 1588?
England’s lack of success in supporting northern Netherlands; Catholic Crusade; execution of MQS.  
52
Why did the Armada fail?
Stronger English ships (easy to manoeuvre), superior guns (longer range), better tactics (use of fire ships to break crescent); Weak Spanish leadership (Duke of Medina Sidonia), flawed plan (Netherlands), slower galleons; Storms! 
53
How were the English finally successful against Spain in the Netherlands by 1594?
New English general, De Vere, worked well with the Dutch leader and pushed Spain out of northern Netherlands.    
54
Why were they not so successful at sea in the 1590s?
Took Cadiz, but did not capitalise on it; failed to take Panama; 3000 Spanish troops landed in Ireland in 1601, allied to the Earl of Tyrone, and were nearly successful – Mountjoy saved the day!   
55
What were the BIG successes of Elizabeth’s foreign policy? 
Early support for Protestant Lords of Congregation in Scotland; Armada; success against Spain in the Netherlands by 1594.  
56
What were the major failings? 
  Failed in supporting French Huguenots; allowed Spain to dominate in Netherlands for a long time and failed initially; Third Irish Rebellion linking up with Spanish troops (although crushed by Mountjoy); expensive!    
57
What three categories were the poor divided into?   
Deserving; impotent; undeserving.    
58
What were the causes of poverty?  
Growing population; food shortages esp in 1590s; plagues; enclosure; rise in cost of living & wage caps.     
59
What laws were passed to support the deserving poor?  
Acts for the Relief of the Poor 1576; 1598; 1601.    
60
What laws were passed to keep the undeserving poor under control?
Vagabonds Act 1572; 1598 Act for the Punishment of Rogues.   
61
Why were the Poor Laws significant?
Lasted for 250 years afterwards; acknowledged the plight of the poor wasn’t all their fault; kept poor under control.  
62
Which was the most problematic region for Elizabeth I and why? 
Either the North due to the Northern Rebellion or Ireland due to Third Irish Rebellion & 3000 Spanish troops landing.     
63
What were the three rebellions of Elizabeth’s reign? 
  Northern Rebellion 1569; Irish Rebellion 1595-1601; Essex Rebellion 1601.   
64
What were the causes of the Northern Rebellion?
Discontent at religious changes; Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland felt dishonoured by Elizabeth’s use of southerners (Earl of Sussex) to control the North; Courtly conspiracy – Duke of Norfolk to marry MQS as heir to English throne 
65
How did Elizabeth I almost fuel the rebellion? 
By summoning the Earls of Westmorland and Northumberland to court to tell them off!  
66
Why did it fail?
Disorganised and no clear aims; Poor leadership; Lack of foreign support; Decisive action by the government  
67
How threatening was it?  
no support from other northern Earls or parts of the North; 700 rebels ordered to be executed, but only approx. 450 were – Westmorland escaped abroad and; Northumberland was eventually captured and executed in 1572.  Norfolk spared; Pope excommunicated Elizabeth after the rebellion – too late; Extent of Spanish involvement questionable – did not want MQS on throne due to links with France; Little enthusiasm to get rid of Elizabeth, but not necessarily a ringing endorsement!   
68
What were the main changes to the economy in Elizabethan England
Growth of shipping & coal industries (internally and with trade with France)   Some attempted involvement in the slave trade (John Hawkins)  More luxury goods being imported – affordable to more people  Decline in cloth trade with Antwerp, with more emphasis on Germany & Amsterdam  More exploration & trading companies set up with Russia, Turkish and Asia, but economically marginal  Unsuccessful attempts to colonise Virginia and open North American markets  Increase in agricultural production      
69
What were the main effects of this?   Positive or negative?
Marginal growth of overseas markets – ‘relatively backward in exploiting trading opportunities’ but laid foundations for future expansion   Increased prosperity for landowners – incomes rose, access to material possessions & boom in country homes with better living standards for more modest farmers too.   Decline of some urban centres e.g. Winchester as dependent on cloth industry, but others grew due their broader range of manufacturing industries e.g. York and new developed e.g. Manchester  Difficulties still very much faced by the poor – real wages fell, particularly bad after 4 harvests failed from 1594-1597, and worse in the North and West Midlands.    Relationship between Crown and landed elites and commercial elites of City of London became closer, due to involvement in joint stock companies.    Overall, mixed economic record (although economic policy did not exist at this time).     
70
Who were the Puritans?  
more extreme Protestants, who believed that the Elizabethan Religious Settlement did not go far enough & any remaining Catholic practices should be purged/abusive terms to those who considered themselves ‘godly’   
71
Who were the Presbyterians?   
They believed in the introduction of a Calvinist form of church government.       
72
Who were the Presbyterians?     
They believed in the introduction of a Calvinist form of church government.       
73
Why did the Vestiarian Controversy happen and what happened?  (clothing - vestments) 
Queen desired conformity & obedience to the Settlement vs. Puritans who wanted ‘superstitious practices’ eradicated.    Several figures in the church decided they could not follow the Act of Uniformity & Royal injunctions as they specified wearing Catholic vestments.  
74
What was the queen’s reaction and what did it suggest about the threat level? 
She dismissed the prominent Oxford academic Thomas Sampson from his post at Christ Church.  Archbishop of Canterbury Parker and 5 bishops issued ‘Advertisements’ stating all clergy had to follow same rites & manners.  37 London clergymen refused to signify their support, so deprived of posts.  Not very threatening.  Showed Elizabeth’s determination to enforce the Settlement, but the conflict the clergy could face.     
75
What was The Presbyterian movement? 
Part of Puritan movement – believed that although CofE was Calvinist in its doctrine, it should be further reformed in its structure & forms of worship.  Office of bishop should be abolished , all ministers should be equal & lay elders should have an admin role in the church.  Emerged partly in response to Vestiarian Controversy.  Some Presbyterians began to question the scriptural basis for the authority of bishops & other aspects of the church.     
76
Who was involved and what happened? 
John Field wrote to criticisms known as Admonitions 1) attacked Book of Common Prayer & called for abolition of Bishops.  2) described the Presbyterian system of Church government.  Debate also between Thomas Cartwright (Cambridge academic) – believed church founded on popish principles was flawed & had to be modified vs. John Whitgift (VC of Uni of Cambridge) – Presbyterians’ attitude was destructive & would split the church.     Movement attracted some influential supporters e.g. Leicester, Burghley, Huntingdon.  Grew in 1580s in numbers but limited to a narrow geographical areas.  Ideas were developed for church local assemblies and national synods, but unsuccessful 
77
Why did a radical Puritan movement develop?  
   Wanted to separate from CofE altogether as believed it could not reform itself away from popish elements.  They wanted to create their own independent congregation& disagreed with queen as supreme governor of church.   
78
What happened? Who was involved? 
Emerged in 1580s as a movement.  Robert Browne became leader in Norwich with a significant congregation, but soon petered out & left for Netherlands.  Later returned & made peace with the authorities – related to Burghley.    Henry Barrow & John Greenwood led some congregations in London.   
79
What was the queen’s reaction?  
Passed of the Act against Seditious Sectaries in 1593 – showed some worry. Barrow, Greenwood & John Penry all executed for devising & circulating seditious books’.  Was destroyed so no threat.     
80
Why had Puritanism declined by the late 1580s?   
Deaths of Leicester, Burghley and Mildway – its political supporters at court  Defeat of Spanish Armada reduced the perceived threat of Catholicism   Disappearance of Presbyterianism meant Puritan attitudes became more acceptable within the traditional structure of the church   1595 Lambeth Articles confirmed fundamentally Calvinist beliefs/doctrine of CofE proved acceptable to Puritans and Whitgift alike  1559 Book of Common Prayer was generally accepted by both as the basis for an acceptable form of worship   BY END OF ELIZABETH’S REIGN, RELIGION NO LONGER A SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUE AND THE ‘GODLY’ PURITANS WERE HOUSED WITHIN THE CHURCH (POSSIBLY STILL HOPING TO PURIFY IT FROM WITHIN).
81
Who were the Catholic opponents to the Religious Settlement?
Recusants; Seminary Priests, Jesuits; Church Papists. 
82
What Penal Laws were passed against the Catholics and why? 
Penal Laws of 1571; Act to Retain the Queen’s Majesty 1581; Bond of Association 1584; Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests 1585; Penal Law 1587.  
83
What were the criteria for a Cultural Golden Age?  
Outstanding individual achievements in the arts & recognition   Growing and widespread popular interest in the arts   Increase in patronage of the arts  Improvements in standards of literacy and communication  
84
Give examples from Art, Literature and Music:       
Art: Hilliard and Oliver  Shakespeare and Marlow   Tallis          

Tudors (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions