Elizabeth’s Problems

Question 1

Legitimacy

Answer 1

In the view of the catholics, Elizabeth was illegitimate as Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of argon was never agreed by the people

Question 2

Mary Queen of Scots

Answer 2

Claimed that she was the legitimate catholic heir to the throne and was married to the catholic king of France

Question 3

Religion

Answer 3

England was in a period of religious instability since Henry VIII’s break with Rome. Mary I Elizabeth’s sister had been catholic and had heavily persecuted Protestants

Question 4

Financial weaknesses

Answer 4

The crown was in 300,000 in debt due to the expensive war with France that Mary I had fought this was a huge sum in 1558

Question 5

Foreign threat

Answer 5

England was isolated surrounded by catholic enemies in both France who they had been at war with and Spain who Elizabeth had refused a marriage proposal from

Question 6

Gender and marriage

Answer 6

Most people thought women were not capable of ruling along women were seen as the weaker sex Elizabeth was being pushed to marry by her advisers

Question 7

What was the urban social hierarchy?

Answer 7

Merchants
Professionals
Business owners
Skilled craftsmen
Unskilled workers and unemployed

Question 8

What was the rural social hierarchy?

Answer 8

Nobel’s
Gentry
Yeomen
Tenant farmers
Landless / labouring poor
Vagrants / homeless