Edexcel GCSE History Elizabethan England - Queen, Government and Religion

What were the 5 main parts of the Elizabethan Government?

• Court

• Privy Council

• Parliament

• Lords Lieutenant

• Justices of the Peace

What were the key features of the court?

• Body of people who lived near the monarch

• Mostly made up of nobility

• Monarch’s key servants, advisers and friends

What was the role of the court?

• Entertain and advise the monarch

• Public display of wealth and power

What was the role of the Privy Council?

• Debate current issues and advise the monarch

• Made sure the Monarch’s decisions were carried out

• Oversaw law and order

• Monitored Justices of the Peace

• Monitored Parliament proceedings

What was the Parliament made up of?

House of Lords and House of Commons

What was the role of the Parliament?

• Grant extraordinary taxation

• Passed laws

• Offered advice to monarch

What was the role of the Lords Lieutenant?

• In charge of training and raising local militia

• Oversaw enforcement of policies

• Part of local government

What was the role of the Justices of the Peace?

• Make sure all social and economic policies carried out

• Heard court cases every 3 months for serious cases

• Part of local government

What could Elizabeth II do as the monarch?

• Declare war and make peace

• Call and dismiss parliament

• Rule in some legal cases

• Grant titles, land, money and jobs

Who was Elizabeth II’s most famous Secretary of State who held the position up until 1573

Sir William Cecil

Why was Elizabeth II considered illegitimate?

• Henry VIII had broken ties with the pope and made the Church of England

• He granted himself a divorce with Catherine of Aragon

• He got married to Anne Boleyn who later gave birth to Elizabeth on 7 Sept 1533

• Catholics see this as not being legitimate

What were the pros to Elizabeth possibly getting married?

• Husband could fulfill a role as a military leader in war

• Having children would ensure England’s security

What were the cons to Elizabeth possibly getting married?

• She would be sidelined by her husband

• Only suitable men would be foreign princes who would their own country’s needs first

What were some of the characteristics of Elizabeth II?

• Highly intelligent and well educated

• Confident and charismatic

What were the financial challenges facing Elizabeth II?

• England had just fought costly wars

• The Crown was £300,000 in debt

How could a Monarch raise money?

• Rents and income from their own lands

• Taxes from trade

• Subsidies (had to be agreed by parliament)

• Profits of justice

• Loans

What were the key features of the French’s threat to Elizabeth?

• Auld alliance - friendship between Scotland and France

• MQS had a claim to English throne

• In the treaty of Calais in 1559, England were forced to give up Calais (important trading)

What were the main religious divisions in England in 1558?

• Clergy - most of England’s bishops were catholic

• Geographical divisions - north west was mainly catholic, south east was mainly protestant

• Puritans - extreme protestants who believed anything outside of the bible was false

When was Elizabeth II’s religious