Government

Question 1

Elizabeths main advisors

Answer 1

• William Cecil
• Robert Dudley
• Sir Francis Walsingham

Question 2

William Cecil

Answer 2

• appointed Secretary of State in 1558
• most important minister and guided her for 40 years
• 1571: received title as Lord Burghley

Question 3

Robert Dudley

Answer 3

• Earl of Leicester
• trusted adviser until death in 1588
• close with Elizabeth (rumours of lovers?)

Question 4

Sir Francis Walsingham

Answer 4

• In charge of Elizabeth’s secret service
• advised foreign affairs
• 1586, he uncovered the plot that led to Mary QOS’s execution

Question 5

Privy council

Answer 5

• a group of powerful noblemen appointed by Elizabeth

- they advised Elizabeth but did not control her

Question 6

How many were appointed to PC and why?

Answer 6

• small group of 19
• to minimise conflict
• to make sure members would get too powerful or disloyal

Question 7

How often did they meet?

Answer 7

• initially met 3 times a week

- met everyday as the council’s influence grew

Question 8

What did the PC advise on?

Answer 8

domestic and foreign issues:

• handling challenges/threats
• when to go to war
• relations with foreign ambassadors
• enforcement of religion

Question 9

When could parliament meet?

Answer 9

when Elizabeth Called it

Question 10

who would set the agenda of Parliament meetings?

Answer 10

Elizabeth

Question 11

What could Parliament discuss?

Answer 11

only what Elizabeth allowed to be discussed

Question 12

What did Elizabeth mainly use Parliament for?

Answer 12

to grant her taxes which was her main income

Question 13

Could Elizabeth prorogue parliament?

Answer 13

yes, at any time

Question 14

how many times did parliament meet?

Answer 14

• 13 times in her 45 year reign

Question 15

Who helped control proceedings in parliament

Answer 15

her privy councillors

Question 16

What was a change with MPs during Elizabeth’s reign

Answer 16

they became more influential and assertive

Question 17

What was parliament and MPs in conflict over?

Answer 17

• marriage
• religion
• freedom of speech
• monopolies

Question 18

Conflict over marriage

Answer 18

• MPs felt Elizabeth should marry and produce an heir to secure the line of succession

Question 19

Conflict over marriage: Elizabeth’s response

Answer 19

• said it was her private business

- she would marry when and if It was convention

Question 20

Conflict over religion

Answer 20

• E was protestant and re-instated the Church of England
• wanted to avoid religious conflict so offered a ‘middle-way’
• Puritan MPs disagreed with this

Question 21

Conflict over Religion: Elizabeth’s response

Answer 21

• said religion was a matter of state, not for parliament

- forbade them to discuss religion

Question 22

Conflict over freedom of speech

Answer 22

• 1576: puritan MP Peter Wentworth complained MPs were not free to discuss whatever they liked

Question 23

Conflict over freedom of speech: Elizabeth’s response

Answer 23

• sent him to the Tower of London for a month for speaking out

Question 24

what were monopolies?

Answer 24

• gave individual notes and merchants the right to manufacture/sell goods
• intended to promote business and boost the economy

Question 25

Conflicts over monopolies

Answer 25

- MPs felt monopolies were unfair and were being abused - because one person controlled the supply of a particular product, prices rose - Elizabeth also made money from granting monopoly licences - protests from 1597-98 and 1601, wouldn't grant taxes

Question 26

Evidence of revisionist thesis

Answer 26

- most of the time the commons gave E what she wanted - Elizabeth could forbid certain discussions - the commons agreed to the lord Chancellor over th 1586 Norfolk election - little uprising for freedom of speech

Question 27

Revisionist thesis

Answer 27

- different to Neale's theory - more cooperation in parliament than conflict - any opposition was infrequent, not organised, and never a serious challenge to Elizabeth

Question 28

Neale's 'Puritan Choir' Thesis

Answer 28

- developed a thesis on the role of Parliament - parliaments increasing importance (mostly in religious matters) encouraged factionalism and opposition to royal authority in the Commons - Puritans would demand more Protestant reforms for the Church of England - this is evidence of a more organised commons that was prepared to contest Elizabeth's policies

Question 29

Conflict over Monopolies: Elizabeth's response

Answer 29

- she withdrew some monopolies | - made long speech flattering parliament (the 'Golden Speech')

Question 30

Neale's 'Puritan Choir' Thesis

Answer 30

- developed a thesis on the role of Parliament - parliaments increasing importance (mostly in religious matters) encouraged factionalism and opposition to royal authority in the Commons - Puritans would demand more Protestant reforms for the Church of England - this is evidence of a more organised commons that was prepared to contest Elizabeth's policies