Queen, Government and Religion (1558-69)

Question 1

The social hierarchy of Elizabethan England [6]:

Answer 1

1. Nobility
2. Gentry
3. Yeomen
4. Tenant farmers
5. Landless/labouring poor
6. Vagrants and homeless

Question 2

The social hierarchy of towns [5]:

Answer 2

1. Merchants
2. Professionals
3. Business owners
4. Skilled craftsmen
5. Unskilled workers and unemployed

Question 3

Gentry [definition]:

Answer 3

Wealthy land owners

Question 4

Yeomen [definition]:

Answer 4

Men who held a small amount of land or an estate

Question 5

Tenant farmers [definition]:

Answer 5

Farmers who farmed and rented land which was usually owned by gentry or yeomen

Question 6

Militia [definition]:

Answer 6

A military force of ordinary people rather than soldiers usually raised in emergencies

Question 7

Divine right [definition]:

Answer 7

The belief that the monarch was chosen and put on the throne by God

Question 8

Patronage [definition]:

Answer 8

To provide someone with an important job or position

Question 9

Royal Perogative [definition]:

Answer 9

Areas in which only the monarch had the right to decide upon

Question 10

Extraordinary Taxation [definition]:

Answer 10

Occasional, additional taxation to pay for unexpected expenses

Question 11

Why was Elizabeth’s legitimacy questioned ? [2]:

Answer 11

• Catholics refused to acknowledge Henry VIII’s annulment as the Pope didn’t agree to it
• In Catholic eyes, Elizabeth was born out of wedlock and so iligetimate

Question 12

Who were Elizabeth’s parents ? [2]:

Answer 12

• Henry VII

- Anne Boleyn

Question 13

Why was Elizabeth’s legitimacy an issue ? [2]:

Answer 13

• Catholic Church was against her

- > Catholic allies and nobles may want to replace her

Question 14

Elizabeth’s strengths [6]:

Answer 14

• Highly intelligent and educated
• Multilingual
• understood court politics
• confident and charismatic
• Able to make great speeches to influence her subjects
• Strong and ambitious advisors

Question 15

What languages could Elizabeth speak ? [4]:

Answer 15

• Latin
• Greek
• French
• Italian

Question 16

Elizabeth’s weaknesses [8]:

Answer 16

• Privy council found her very frustrating
• Had a temper
• Indecisive
• Legitimacy
• Indecisive
• Gender
• No heir
• Unmarried

Question 17

Who was Elizabeth’s secretary of state?

Answer 17

Sir William Cecil

Question 18

How long Elizabeth’s secretary of state hold his position?

Answer 18

1558-1563

Question 19

What year was Elizabeth crowned?

Answer 19

1558

Question 20

Challenges to Elizabeth at home [5]:

Answer 20

• Debt of £300,000
• Mary had sold the crown lands
• Religious divide
• Disloyal (Catholic) Nobles
• Low moral

Question 21

Challenges to Elizabeth overseas [4]:

Answer 21

• Possible threat of French and Spanish alliance against England
• Protestant vs Catholic church
• England lost ownership of Calais in 1559
• French and Scottish alliance (The Auld alliance)

Question 22

The English reformation [3]:

Answer 22

• 1532
• When Henry VIII created the Church of England
• A challenge to the teachings and power of the RC catholic church

Question 23

Key features of the court [3]:

Answer 23

• The court was a body of people who lived in the same palaces as the monarch
• Attending the court required the monarch’s permission
• Mostly made of members of the nobility, advisors, key servants and friends

Question 24

The Roles of the court [2]:

Answer 24

• To entertain and advise the monarch

- Act as a public display of wealth and power

Question 25

Key features of the Privy council [4]:

Answer 25

- Made up of leading courtiers and advisors - There were about 19 members of the council - They met at least 3 times a week - Meetings were often attended and presided by the monarch

Question 26

The Role of the Privy council [3]:

Answer 26

- To debate current issues and advise the monarch - Made sure The Monarchs decisions were carried out - Oversaw law and order and the security of England

Question 27

Key features of the Parliament [3]:

Answer 27

- Made up of the house of lords and the house of commons - Parliament could only be called and dismissed by the monarch - Elections were held before every new parliament

Question 28

Key features of the Lord Lieutenants [3]:

Answer 28

- They were appointed by the monarch - They were members of the privy counsel - They were essential to maintaining the monarch

Question 29

The role of the privy council [3]:

Answer 29

- They were in charge of raising and training the local militia and overseeing county defences - They oversaw the enforcement of policies - Part of the local government

Question 30

Key features of the Justice of the peace (JPs):

Answer 30

- They were large landowners who kept law and order in their local areas - They were unpaid and reported to the privy council - It was a position of status/ a quite popular profession

Question 31

What was the role of the Justice of the peace [3]:

Answer 31

- To make sure all social-economic policies were carried out - Heard county court cases every three months for serious crimes - Part of the local government

Question 32

What were decisions that monarchs could make in the Elizabethan era? [4]:

Answer 32

- Declare war and make peace - Call and dismiss parliament - Reject any kaws proposed by parliament - Grant titles, money, land and jobs

Question 33

Patronage [definition]:

Answer 33

To provide someone with an important job or patronage

Question 34

Who was Elizabeth's most important privy councillor?

Answer 34

Her secretary of state; Sir William Cecil

Question 35

Who was Sir William Cecil? [2]:

Answer 35

- Elizabeth's secretary of state from 1558-1573 | - He was later raised to the nobility and became Lord Burghley

Question 36

What were some advantages of Elizabeth not having a husband? [2]:

Answer 36

+ Her potential husbands could fulfil the role of a military leader at war: which is an important part of a monarch's role + Having children in the future will ensure England's stability as there would be no 'vacancy' for the heir's throne

Question 37

Disadvantages of Elizabeth being unmarried [2]:

Answer 37

- Her legitimacy is questioned | - Her claim to the throne is not as strong

Question 38

Why was Elizabeth's gender an issue? [2]:

Answer 38

- The previous female monarch (bloody Mary)was generally disliked for her cruelty: This led to prejudice against Elizabeth - Women were not important in the social hierarchy as they were considered physically and mentally weaker

Question 39

What were the challenges at home Elizabeth had to face as a monarch? [3]:

Answer 39

- The crown was £300,000 in debt due to the previous monarch's attempt at war - The crown lands had to be sold off to help her debt - Special additional taxes known as subsidies had to be agreed on by parliament; this was an issue as taxes were unpopular

Question 40

The French threat of 1559 and Mary QOS as their new queen [4]:

Answer 40

- France was wealthier and had a larger population than England - Her cousin Mary Queen of Scots reformed the Auld alliance with France and married King Francis II in 1559 - This was a problem as Mary QOS had a legitimate claim to the English throne - Furthermore, she was a Catholic monarch, likely to be supported by the pope and her new Catholic-french allies

Question 41

Mary QOS and her claim to the English throne [2]:

Answer 41

- When Mary I (Bloody Mary) died Mary QOS declared herself the legitimate Catholic claimant to the English throne - Mary QOS was the second grandaughter of Henry VII's sister

Question 42

Scotland and England as traditional enemies [2]:

Answer 42

- Scotland was an independent country and a traditional enemy of England - England's border with Scotland was remote and hard to defend which meant that there was many fights and raids on each side