Part 1 - Elizabeth’s court and Parliament - Difficulties of a female ruler Flashcards
(22 cards)
1
Q
How was taxation a problem for Elizabeth?
A
- country was short on money - elizabeth needed to raise taxes
- poverty widespread - raising taxesvery unpopular
2
Q
How was Ireland a problem for Elizabeth?
A
- like her predecessors - elizabeth considered herself queen of ireland
- in 1559 she faced a major revolt in ireland
3
Q
How was MQS a problem for Elizabeth?
A
- no direct heir - next in line to throne was elizabeths catholic cousin - MQS
- many catholics saw her as an alternative queen of england - made her a serious threat
4
Q
How was foreign policy a problem for Elizabeth?
A
- catholic countries like spain and france wanted influence over england - had support of pope in this aim
- threat of invasion very real
- netherlands key area of tension - protestanta population in conflict with spanish rulers - elizabeth had to decided whether or not to become involved
5
Q
How was religion a problem for Elizabeth?
A
- tudor period saw englands offical religion change number of times - created instabiltiy/violence
- many catholics did not trust elizabeth - claimed she had no right to be queen
- puritanism seen as threat - number of puritans hoped to take control of elizabeths church - could have damaged religious settlement
6
Q
How was succession a problem for Elizabeth?
A
- elizabeth was last living child of henry VIII - no clear children of her own - unclear who would succeed her if she died before producing heir
- situations like this previously led to violent struggles for power
- 1562 - nearly died of smallpox - drew attention to uncertainty of england future - senior figures advised her to marry as soon as possible
7
Q
Arguments in favour of marriage?
A
- create alliance with foreign country - guarantee loyalty of powerful english family
- produce heir to continue tudor line and stop MQS becoming queen
8
Q
Arguments against marriage?
A
- loss of authority - either to foreign ruler or englishman - by not marrying elizabeth kept independence
- giving birth risky for mother
- her experience of marriage was bad - father married 6 times - mother executed - sisters marriage to philip II unhappy
- could use possibilty of marriage to her advantage
9
Q
Franis Duke of Anjou and Alecon?
A
- french kings brother - heir to his throne
- by time marriage was proposed elizabeth was 46 - beyond having children
- childless marriage could lead to england falling under french control
- he was catholic - many people in court against the marriage
10
Q
King Philip II of Spain?
A
- one of wealthiest and most powerful men in world
- had been married to Mary I - rarely visited england - marriage didnt produce heir
- was catholic
11
Q
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester?
A
- childhood friend of queen - favourite throughout her reign
- many assumed they were lovers
- key figure in royal court - member of privy council
- suspicions of him murdering his wife - made this almost impossible
12
Q
How many times did Elizabeth call parliament?
A
parliament was only called 13 times in 45 years
13
Q
Relations with parliament over marriage and succession?
A
- saw it as their duty to find elizabeth a suitable husband - by 1556 discussed it openly
- angry at interference - elizabeth banned them from talking about it again
- saw marriage as a decision for her to make alone
14
Q
Relations with parliament over religion?
A
- majority of people in both houses of parliament were protestants - supported elizabeths religious settlement
- supported her ideas to make life hard for catholics
- disagreed over puritanism - number of puritans in parliament tried unsuccessfully to introduce new laws to change the church of england
15
Q
Relations with parliament over freedom of speech?
A
- MP peter wentworth arrested 3 times during elizabeths reing for arguing that MPs should be allowed to talk on any matter they chose
- some supported him, others did not
- one of his arrests organised by other MPs wishing to demonstrate their loyalty
16
Q
Relations with parliament over crime and poverty?
A
- issue of poverty significant in Elizabethan england
- many MPs recognised simply punishing poor did not work - attempted to introduce poor laws
- unsuccessful until 1601 when first poor law was passed
17
Q
Relations with parliament over MQS?
A
- majority of those in parliament saw MQS as clear threat to national security - significant number called for her execution
- pressure and that of privy council may have swayed elizabeth into executing her cousin
18
Q
Relations with parliament over monopolies?
A
- giving monopolies important way for elizabeth to maintain loyalty of powerful men in england
- 1571 - MP Robert Bell criticised them as unfair - other MPs joined him in calling for changed in their use
- elizabeth greed to make a few changes but MPs pushed for more
- 1601 - she made speech to parliament - gave impression that she was agreeing to make major changes to how monopolies worked - didnt promise anything
19
Q
Who was Essex?
A
- loyal subject throughout elizabeths reign - for a time one of her favourites - became privy councillor in 1595 - awarded monopoly on sweet wine in england
- developed rivalry with robert cecil - son of william cecil
- essex pleased queen in 1596 when he successfully attacked spanish port of cadiz
20
Q
Causes of essex rebellion?
A
- essex involved in argument with queen during privy council meeting - turned his back on Elizabeth - she hit him in the side of his head - nearly drew his sword but was stopped by other councillors just in time - house arrest
- queen sent him to deal with rebellion in ireland - failed to defeat rebels - agreed to truce with them - against queens orders
- essex rushesd into queens chambers - caught her without her wig
- after failures in ireland - essex quickly fell from elizabeths favour - refused to renew his sweet wine monopoly - lost much of wealth and influence
- angry - nothing left to lose - gathered supporters to plot a rebellion against queen
21
Q
What happened during essex rebellion?
A
- feb 1601- essex took 4 privy councillors hostage - marched them to his london house with 200 supporters
- robert cecil responded by calling him traitor - many essex supporters left
- essex and remaining followers arrested
22
Q
Consequences of essex rebellion?
A
- essex put on trial for treason - sentences to death
- during his interrogation - agreed to name other rebels including sister Penelope
- executed in private on 25 feb 1601
- elizabeth made it clear she would not tolerate challenges to her authority
