Edexcel : Early Elizabethan England

The problem of her accession

legitimacy - was considered illegitimate by Catholics
gender - she was female
marriage - was not married

Challenges from home

Financial weakness - when she came to the throne England had £300,000 of debt to pay, the throne only received income from taxes.

Challenges from abroad

France - France were catholic and had strong relations with Scotland. they could easily invade England
Calais - England had recently lost Calais to the French under an agreement. reclaiming Calais could make Elizabeth popular

Protestantism

Elizabeth was a protestant and wanted to make England protestant

Puritans

A small group of radical protestants, only about 3000. they held little power and no threat to Elizabeth.

The Religious Settlement, 1559

A settlement that gave compromise between catholic and protestant churches. Hated by lots. Three acts in it, the act of supremacy, the act of uniformity and the royal injunctions

The Act of Supremacy

Made Elizabeth supreme governor of the Church of England, all clergy swore an oath to her.

The Act of Uniformity

Established the appearance of churches and the form of services they held

Royal Injunctions

Reinforced the Act of Supremacy and Uniformity, and set out the structure of the services

Recusants

People who refused to go to church and were fined one shilling for every absence

Labourers act of 1563

Labourers earned up to 3 pence a day
Skilled craftsmen earned up to 4 pence a day
A Servant earns up to 8 to 9 pence a week

The impact of the religious settlement

8,000 out of 10,000 took the new oath.
only 1 bishop agreed to take the oath, 27 new ones were brought in

Enforcing the settlement

Visits happened to churches to make sure they followed the rules
400 clergy were dismissed
Visits took place every 3 to 4 years

challenge from the puritans

They did not want a crucifix in the church
They did not like the vestments being worn

The revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569

Earl of Westmoreland and Northumberland, led an army of catholic followers to overthrow Elizabeth

Reasons for the Revolt Of The Northern Earls

The earls had their power reduced by Elizabeth
They were unhappy with the settlement
They disliked Elizabeth's favourites

Events of the revolt of the northern earls

Held mass at Durham cathedral
Took control of Pennines
24th nov they retreated

The threat of Spain

strictly Catholic
Large army
Large colonies

The Dutch revolt, 1566-68

Dutch protestants rebelled against their Spanish colonists.
they fought the Spanish for their freedom
10,000 men Spanish army defeated the revolt

Consequences of Dutch Revolt

Many Dutch protestants were killed
Lots of Dutch protestants fled to England
Duke of Alba put in charge, hated Elizabeth
Council of Troubles created, killed all Dutch protestants

Sea Beggars

Dutch protestants who fled to sea and attacked Spanish ships in the English Channel. Elizabeth allowed them to shelter in English ports

Genoese Loan

Spanish ships carrying a large sum of gold, which was a loan from genoa, were attacked by sea beggars and had to take shelter in English ports. Elizabeth took all the gold

Mary Queen of scots claim to the throne

Was legitimate
Henry VII great grand-daughter
Elizabeths 1 second cousin

Treaty of Edinburgh, 1560

stated Mary Queen of Scots would give up her claim to the English throne.
Mary was not informed of the treaty

Mary Queen of scots arrival in England

Mary married her second husband, henry Stuart, lord Darnley and had a son. She then killed him and married the Earl of Bothwell. Mary was imprisoned and escaped to England. She was imprisoned again

Consequences of the revolt of the northern earls

Treason laws were harsher
Catholics were punished harder

The Ridolfi plot, 1571

Plan was for Mary to marry the Duke of Norfolk, the Spanish army (10,000 men) to invade and put Mary QOS on the throne.

Consequences of the Ridolfi plot

The pope excommunicated Elizabeth
reinforced the Spanish threat
Elizabeth tries to improve relations with France

The Throckmorton plot, 1583

Plan was for Duke of Guise to invade england, with financial support from the Spanish. Mary QOS put on throne.

Consequences of the Throckmorton plot

Catholics were treated harsher
11,000 Catholics arrested
Act passed that gave death penalty to sheltering catholic priests

The Babington plot, 1586

plan was for Duke of Guise to invade with 60,000 men, Mary QOS would be put on the throne

Consequences of the Babington plot

Relations with Europe shut down
mass arrests of recusants, 300 priests arrested. 31 executed
Mary QOS was executed

why was Mary QOS executed

Her role in Babington plot
Spain were planning an attack
Catholic figurehead

Walsingham's spy network

Spies and informants in every town
He used ciphers to communicate
Pardoned catholic priests in return for their spy services

Elizabeth's foreign policy aims

Develop trade and improve economy
Protect England's borders
Protect the English throne

Francis Drake

An English merchant who raided many Spanish ships and settlements in the new world

Drake's circumnavigation of the globe

1577-80
Was told by Elizabeth to raid as many Spanish ships as possible
Travelled most of the journey with one ship, The golden hind

Outcome of the Circumnavigation of the globe

Claimed a region of North California, called it Nova Albion
Brought 400,000 of Spanish treasure to England
Knighted on the deck of The Golden Hind

Significance of the circumnavigation of the globe

Only one other Sailor had managed to circumnavigate the globe
Boosted the crowns finances
The Knighting sent a message of defiance to Spain

Elizabeth's indirect involvement in the Netherlands

Helped Dutch protestants against Spain
Allowed Spanish ships to come under attack of English privateers
Pursued friendly relations with French

The Spanish Fury and Pacification of Ghent, 1576

Spain ran out of money in the Netherlands and soldiers gave up after weeks without pay.
Dutch rebels met in Antwerp and drew up a treaty.

Pacification of Ghent, 1576

All Spanish troops were to leave the Netherlands
Restoration of political autonomy
An end to religious persecution

Direct involvement in the Netherlands, 1580-84

Duke of Alencon convinced to take an army to Netherlands
Gave him 70,000 with promise of sending more later on

Turning point in Anglo-Spanish relations

Duke of Alencon and William of Orange (assassinated) died
Treaty of Joinville signed which formed an alliance between Spain and France against Protestantism

Direct involvement in the Netherlands, 1585-88

Treaty of Nonsuch signed, put England and Spain at war
7,400 troops sent to Netherlands under command from Earl of Leicester
Drake was also sent to raid Spanish settlements
The campaign went badly

Singeing of the kings beard, 1587

Drake sailed to the Spanish port of Cadiz and set 30 ships on fire.
The disruption delayed the Armada by a year

Reasons for Spanish Armada

Religion - Phillip wanted Catholic England
Politics - Treaty of Nonsuch and Joinville
Provocation - Drake, support for Dutch rebels
Circumstances - Portugal, success in Netherlands

Spain's strategy

130 ships would sail down to the Netherlands and meet up with the army in the Netherlands. 130 ships and 30,000 men would then attack England

Why did the Armada fail - Ship Design

English ships were faster, easier to maneuverer. The cannons could be fired 6 times quicker.

Why did the Armada fail - Supplies

Provisions were stored in barrels of Inferior wood (due to drakes attack on Cadiz), by the time to English attacked the Spanish had been at sea for 10 weeks, supplies were incredibly low.
Cannon balls were poorly made

Why did the Armada fail - Communication

Ports in the Netherlands could not fit the ships
Communications had to go by sea, so were late
The Army never met up with the ships

Why did the Armada fail - Tactics

They first opened fire at Plymouth and captured 2 ships
English kept the Spanish moving so they could not meet up with their army
Fireships scattered the armada
meant they were unprepared when met at the final battle

Education for nobility

Based on what Elizabeth had strong knowledge of
Did lots of sport
Educated in the home

Grammar schools

42 founded in 1560s, 30 more in 1570s
private schools set up for clever boys
Some lower class boys that showed promise didn't have to pay a fee

petty schools

schools for girls to learn basic maths and english

leisure for nobility

Hunting
hawking
fishing
real tennis

leisure for lower classes

football, no rules, ended in death
Cock-fighting, two cockerels fought each other, bets on winner

Theatre in Elizabethan England

more non-religious plays were performed
troops of men would perform
the queen and the earl of Leicester had a set of performers
purpose-built theatres were built for the first time
poor people would pay 1 penny to watch to show (standing)

who were the poor

people who spent 80% or more of their income on bread
mostly widows were poor

why did poverty increase - rising prices

poor harvests meant their wasn't enough food to go around.
prices of bread rose
wages did not increase with inflation

sheep farming

wool accounted for 80.1% exports during Elizabeth's reign
many saw sheep farming was profitable and switched., meaning less food
sheep farming required little labour

enclosure

enclosure turned small farms into one big one, kicking out many tenants and leaving them jobless
little labour was required
left land to rejuvenate, bad use of land

why did enclosure cause an increase in poverty

ordinary farm labourers suffered lower wages and increased rent
fewer labourers were needed
tenant farmers had their rent increased

The Urban Poor

due to enclosure, many left the farms and went to try and find work in the cities and towns.
many did not find work and resulted in vagabondage

Able bodied poor

people who were fit to work and didn't bother trying to find work

impotent poor

people who were unable to work due to age or health

The Statue of Artificers, 1563

ensured poor relief was collected
anyone who refused to pay was imprisoned
officials failing to organise poor relief would be fined £20

The vagabonds act, 1572

aim was to deter vagrancy
vagrants would be whipped and a whole put through each ear
imprisoned the second time
death the third time

The Poor Relief Act, 1576

aim was to distinguish able-bodied poor from Impotent
gave able-bodied poor materials to make and sell items
those who refused were sent to a special prison

what led to Elizabethans wanting to explore

navigation - new tach allowed for better navigation
adventure - some men just wanted to travel
expanding trade
maps - far better, more accurate
ships - travel further, better sails

Ship design

faster and more manoeuvrable ships were created, had better fire power to defend themselves

Significance of drakes circumnavigation of the world

Established England as a great sea-faring nation
Nova Albion - England's first colony
Encouraged colonies

promoting the explorations

Manteo and Wanchese - two native Americans that were brought to England to encourage investment

why did the colonies fail

voyage - main ship was damaged, limited supplies left
people - only 107 colonists, all were boys, none of them really wanted to do work
native Americans - did not trust the English

Roanoke colony, 2nd attempt

17 women and families that were prepared to do work
they were guaranteed 500 acres of land each

why did it fail

the native Americans killed some of the leading advisors.
Manteo led a retaliation against them, however, he killed some friendly croatoan settlers.
after three years, they had all disappeared