early elizabethan England edexcel GCSE history

when did Elizabeth become queen

1558

elizabethan England 1558

it was very hierarchical and everyone knew their place in society

who was head of society and government

the queen

what was the centre of all political power during elizabeths reign

the royal court

privy council

' a committee of ministers Elizabeth appointed to advise her'

they were a small group of leading nobles and they advised Elizabeth. they had great power and helped run the country

how many people were on the privy council

Elizabeth appointed 19 people to be on the privy council and they met several times a week

nobles

there were about 100 nobles and they were expected to deal with social unrest and crime in their lands. they would also be the army commanders in time of war

who was in the gentry

lesser nobles, knights and lawyers (they helped ruin local governments and acted as judges and sheriffs

who else helped run the government

the growing class of merchants

yeomen and tenant farmers

(large class)
- they rented their land to others
- if they could prove ownership to their land yeomen could vote in parliament

when would Elizabeth call parliament

when it was about finance. Elizabeth needed parliament to grant money from taxes to pay for the running and defence of the country

how many times was parliament called between 1558-88

9 times (all about finance and taxes)

what was parliament consisted of

the house of lords and house of commons
- 100 bishops, lords and judges (HOL)
-the lower house of parliament (HOC)
- there were about 450 Mp's in the commons who were elected by wealthy landowners (mainly merchants, gentry, lawyers)

who was at the base of the hierarchy

labourers, serpents and poor

elizabeths personal problems (4)

- many Catholics believed she was illegitimate and therefore had no right to the throne

- because she was married people believed that she would not be strong or effective enough and that being unmarried would deter foreign rulers. she appeared vulnerable and weak

- marriage would hopefully lead to an heir and Elizabeth was not married so no heir could be produced - issue of succession

- there was a fear Elizabeth would not choose her advisors wisely

elizabeths strengths and character (4)

- she was brought up as protestant
- she was well educated and spoke many different languages
- she endured the execution of her mother so was redeemed as strong as she was brought without a mother
- she was cautious and perceived as politically intrigue for most of her life

What were Tudor monarchs expected to pay for?

Costs of running England
and if they needed more money they had to call for parliament - so the monarchs did not like to do this

in 1558 where was England likely to be invaded by

france

war against France

1557
meant Elizabeth inherited a loss of £300,000 and calais had just been lost which was a valuable port for England

government spending when Elizabeth became queen

government spending was high and despite her being in debt she spent £100,000 on arms and munitions

exchequer

A department or office of state in England charged with the collection and management of the royal revenue and judicial determination of all revenue causes

challenges with the exchequer book

royal land had not produced sufficient rent to keep the exchequer book balanced

Mary QOS (challenge)

many French believed Mary QOS should be ruler as she was catholic legitimate and had a heir and was married to the French kings son

Mary I religion

she had reintroduced roman catholicism which caused great resentment among protestants but pleased the catholics however Elizabeth was Protestant so it changed again

Roman Catholics and protestants (5)

- protestants had rebelled against Queen Mary's reintroduction of Catholicism. Mary had burnt 300 protestants at the stake
- Mary was a protestant who sought to restore Protestantism, but was aware that forcing people to change could start a civil war
- many of Elizabeth's newly appointed advisers were protestant
- there were also puritans who caused controversy too

Elizabeths religious settlement

- tried to create a settlement which would satisfy all religious groups
- acts of supremacy and uniformity
- all government officials and clergy had to swear an oath to elizabeth
- all church services had to be in english
- the prayer book was to be used in english too
- some catholic features were restored such as candles and vestments
-services included prayers for the queen and priests were told what to say
- clergy were allowed to marry
- failure to attend church services meant a fine of on shilling - RECUSANCY FINES
- the settlement did not cause any rebellions

when was the fine introduced for catholics not attending church

1559

when was the religious settlement

1559

what was the act of supremacy

the act that made elizabeth head of the church

what was the act of uniformity

the act specified the form of the church service which had to follow throughout england

What were the Royal Injunctions?

a set of instructions ordered by sir William Cecil on behalf of the queen for the clergy to follow

clergy

people who have been trained and approved for carrying out religious services in the church

the church if england and ts role in society (4)

- the vast majority of people went to church at least once a week
- peoples lives revolved around the church
- the church ran schools and organised social events for the parish
- leading a good life with the church would lead to a good afterlife

when did dissatisfaction grow with elizabeth and the religion of england

after 1569

the puritan challenge (6)

- happy that that Protestantism was the official religion of england but they were frustrated that Elizabeth had introduced Catholic tendencies int the religion
- in the communion services the puritans felt as though the presence of jesus was spiritual not physical
- some puritans remained as bishops and with puritan MP's tried to persuade Elizabeth to a more puritan style - this evoked elizabeth making all puritan priests resign
- some puritans felt as though Elizabeth should not have any bishops and only have enthusiastic priests
-the puritans were only a minority so elizabeth had to take the rest of the country into consideration
- elizabeth felt settled that the puritans would never plot with the catholic powers of france and spain

when did Elizabeth make all puritan priests resign by

1583

the catholic challenge (6)

- many catholics in the house of lords spoke against the settlement but they were unable to prevent the passing of the acts
- catholics were upset that the settlement did not permit latin mass and therefore catholics often held masses in nobles houses
- some catholics decided not to attend church and elizabeth didnt enforce he recusancy fines too heavily
- the excommunication gave catholics justification for any rebellions against elizabeth and fro any foreign intervention to help Mary QOS
-spain did not wish to challenge elizabeth incase mary QOS became queen and helped France, Spain's enemy
- France was experiencing religious turmoil and did not wish to challenge elizabeth

what did catholics do because they couldn't have latin mass

they held mass in catholic nobles houses

catholic threat (the papacy)

- at first the papacy did not challenge the settlement because it was felt that Elizabeth may change her mind, but Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570. The excommunication encouraged encouraged catholics not to obey elizabeth and opened the way fro plots against her to get Mary QoS to the throne

when did pope pius V excommunicate against elizabeth

1570

What was the papacy?

the system of RCC government headed by the pope

What was excommunication?

expulsion from the RCC

what was the house of Lords

upper house of parliament, it consisted of about 100 Lords, Bishops and judges

who was Mary Qos married to and when did he die

married to the son of the french king and he died in 1560 - this made mary a threat to elizabeth

when did mary QoS arrive in England

1568

Mary's arrival in England 1568 (6)

- mary was elizabeth cousin and heir but elizabeth had not declared her as a successor
- mary claimed elizabeth was not a rightful queen because she was not legitimate
- mary had been forced to abdicate because she was involved with the murder of her second husband
- Elizabeth decided to keep mary in captivity to prevent plots being plotted against her with other catholics
- elizabeth did not wish to execute a fellow monarch
- marys arrival increased Elizabeths fears of plots and rebellions

when did mary abdicate from Scottish throne

1567

When did Mary flee to England?

1568

relations between Elizabeth and Mary 1568-9 (4)

- on arriving in England Mary wanted Elizabeth to help her gain the scottish thrown back, but Elizabeth refused because she didnt want to cause controversy with the Scottish protestant nobles
- the scots wanted to put her on trial; but Elizabeth feared Catholic reaction home and abroad on the other hand she could accept her as a rightful heir but Elizabeth was concerned about scottish and english reactions
- elizabeths feared were justified when the revolt of the nothern earls happened
- as relations between England and Spain worsened from 1569, Marys presence was seen as a growing threat to Elizabeth

when was the revolt of the northern earls

1569

reasons for the revolt of the northern earls (5)

- the duke of Norfolk planned to marry mary
- Norfolk objcted to William Cecils power and Norfolk wanted to increase the influence of catholics at court
- some nothern nobles such as Westmoreland and Northumberland wanted to have more power not only in the North but also at court
- they wished to restore Catholicism
- even if mary did not overthrow Elizabeth it was hoped that elizabeth would name mary as her successor

who was william cecil

- Elizabeth's most trusted councillor who she was reliant on for advice
- Worked together since 1558 to create a moderate religious settlement aiming to keep Protestants and Catholics happy

who was Duke of Norfolk

He was the leading Catholic noble. he was imprisoned after the revolt of the northern and after his release became involved in the Ridolfi plot, he was then executed

Duke of Northumberland

leading northern catholic noble. he was then executed three years after the revolt of the northern earls

Duke of Westermoreland

leading nothern catholic noble. He fled to the Netherlands after the revolt of the northern earls

Duke of Norfolk real name

Thomas Howard

Duke of Northumberland real name

Thomas Percy (married to Anne Percy)

Duke of Westmoreland real name

Charles Neville

significance of the revolt of the northern earls

- expected help from spain and pope did not materialise
- most catholics did not join the revolt, elizabeth was popular and there was no widespread desire to remove her
- her forces were larger than the rebels anticipated and caused them to retreat hastily

elizabeths force against the revolt of the northern earls

she raised a force about 10,000 men, which was an indication of support for her

elizabeths punishment for the rebels

she confiscated land from the rebels and also executed about about 600 of them
northumberland was executed in 1572

when was northumberland

1572

Anthony Babington

a member of the catholic gentry but his family professed to be protestants. Became a jailer of Mary, Queen of scots and became involved in the plot which bore his name. he was executed in 1586

when was anthony babington executed

1586

Francis Throckmorton

a devout Roman Catholic who plotted against Elizabeth. He met many of Marys agents when he was living abroad

Roberto Ridolfi

Italian banker who had been involved in the revolt of the northern earls. he had connections with senior catholics in england and europe

Sir Francis Walsingham

Principle secretary to elizabeth after 1573, he was known as her spymaster

When was the Ridolfi plot?

1571

The ridolfi plot

- mary used roberto ridolfi to carry messages to the pope and Phillip II of spain asking them to organise an invasion of England
- the aim was to assasinate elizabeth
- elizabeth had been excommunicated in 1570 and many catholics felt able to rebel against her
- spanish forces would invade England and help removing resistance
- government spies and informers discovered the plot and the plot was foiled
- from abroad, ridolfi continued to write to Mary but after six months the plot evaporated
- the duke of norfolk was arrested and executed in 1572
- Elizabeth resisted Parliaments demands that Mary should be executed

when was the Throckmorton plot

1583

Throckmorton plot

- spanish and Papal money was used for a French invasion of England to try remove Elizabeth from throne and crown Mary
- Mary used Francis Throckmorton to as intermediary to contact the spanish
- elizabeths spies became aware of the plot and spied on throckmorton
- throckmorton was eventually arrested and he was tortured until he confessed
- throckmorton was executed and the spanish ambassador was expelled
- there was insufficient evidence against Mary to execute her

When was the Babington Plot?

1586

The Babington plot of 1586

-Plotters sought to kill Elizabeth, free Mary and restore catholicism
- letters written by Mary were found by elizabeths spies and this implicated Mary was in on the plot
- Anthony Babington was arrested, tortured and executed
- Mary was then placed on trial

Elizabeths spies

- after 1573 Sir Francis Walsingham used a network of spies and informers across England to protect Elizabeth from plotters
- letters to and from Mary were intercepted and deciphered
- Walsingham also used double agents

when did sir Francis walsingham use a network of spies to protect Elizabeth

1573 onwards (after the ridolfi plot)

when was the execution of Mary QoS

February 1587

Execution of Mary Queen of Scots (6)

- found guilty and executed in feb 1587
- Elizabeth was unwilling to sign the death warrant and her advisors were growing weary about her hesitance as they knew how big of a threat Mary was
- parliament was concerned with the growing threat from Spain and France
-Elizabeth felt overwhelming guilt after executing Mary as she had killed another monarch
- there were no more catholic uprisings in England after the execution
- scotland and France took no action but Spain carried on plotting to invade England

what is circumnavigation

sailing all the way around the world

whats commerce

trading goods or commodities between different countries

where is the new world

north and South America after the early voyages of European explorers

Who were privateers?

sailors whose ships were authorised by the government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels

what was the slave trade

The slave trade refers to the transatlantic trading patterns which were established as early as the mid-17th century. Trading ships would set sail from Europe with a cargo of manufactured goods to the west coast of Africa.

Who was Sir Francis Drake?

-a sea captain, privateer, navigator and slave trader. drake was the first English sailor to circumnavigate the world (1577-80).
-he played crucial roles in fighting the armada
- also he attacked spanish preparations for the armada

Who was John Hawkins?

- naval commander, slave trader and privateer
- he was a treasurer of the English navy after 1578 and was one of the commanders against the armada
- he helped improve the design of the English ships

When did Drake circumnavigate the world?

1577-1580

when did John Hawkins become treasurer of the English navy?

1578

relations with Spain
-political and religious rivalry (5)

- Elizabeth refused to marry Phillip II of Spain and he resented this (Phillip was married to Mary I before she died)
- Phillip II detested Elizabeths religious settlement and wanted to restore catholicism in Spain
- spanish ambassadors became involved in many plots to try and remove Elizabeth
- elizabeths support for the French protestants angered philllip further
- measures of catholics in England after 1570 angered Phillip further and convinced him that they ha to be removed at some point

relations with Spain
- commercial rivalry (5)

- english traders began illegal commerce with spanish settlers in the new world and also began to attack spanish ports and treasure fleets
- John hawkins and other privateers traded in slaves challenging the spanish slave trade
- hawkins, drake and other privateers attacked spanish ships and stole bullion from them
- drakes activities angered the spanish and Phillip resented him
- the spanish feared drake

drakes nickname from the spanish

'El Draque' (the dragon)

key incidents when drake attacked Spanish ships - 1568

San Juan de Ulua

key incidents when drake attacked Spanish ships - 1572

Nombre De Dios

key incidents when drake attacked Spanish ships - 1579

the seizure of the ship 'cacafuego'

Who was the Earl of Leicester?

Robert Dudley

earl of Leicester

a leading English nobleman. he was one of elizabeths favourites and many thought they would marry

who was William of orange

a leading nobleman of the Netherlands and he was the one that started the revolt for independence against the spanish. he was later assassinated

when was William of orange assassinated

1584

outbreak of war with Spain
- English involvement in the Netherlands 1585-88

- England needed to keep the channel free from emeries and any challenge to its navy
- Elizabeth disliked how the protestants were treated by Phillip in the Spanish Netherlands
- money and weapons were sent to protestant rebels in the Netherlands and they were allowed to dock their ships on English ports
-after the assassination of William of orange Elizabeth feared the Spanish would win so she provided more aid to the Netherland protestants
- treaty of nonsuch
- the English army was commanded by the earl of Leicester
- leicester felt as though Elizabeth did not spend enough money on the campaign
- he was able to slow down the advance of the spanish forces

when was English involvement with the Netherlands

1585-1588

what was the treaty of nonsuch

Elizabeth agreed to send 7000 troops to help Dutch against spanish

when was the treaty of nonsuch

1585