Elizabeth I Character Aims

What age was Elizabeth when she came to the throne

25

What 2 big differences were there between Mary and Elizabeths charatcer

1. Elizabeth was much better educated

2. She had a better understanding of politics

Give a piece of evidence for Elizabeths political knowledge

She marked her letters to Queen Mary with diagonal lines to stop people adding in forged material

What were Elizabeths 3 aims when coming to the throne

1. Consolidate her position

2. Create a religious settlement where both sides could be satisfied

3. Make peace with the French

Why was Elizabeth not opposed when coming to the throne?

It was in Henrys will and Mary named her as the successor

What was the state of England when Elizabeth inherited the throne (3 points)

1. England had a series of bad harvests

2. Just had a terrible Flu outbreak with mortality rates comparable to the Black Death

3. England had just lost Calais in a very unsuccessful war with France

Key features of Elizabeths consolidation of power (2 features)

1. Phillip of France offered a peace treaty quickly with Elizabeth showing she had international recognition

2. William Cecil appointed principle secretary

Who announced Elizabeths succession to parliament on November 17th, and why was it significant?

Nicholas Heath, even though he didnt have the right to do it it shows that the political elite of the country welcomed her succession

What did Elizabeths religious settlement aim to create?

‘via-media’ a middle-way between catholicism and protestantism

How did Elizabeth establish the religious settlement (3 ways)

1. Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity

2. Royal injunctions

3. New prayer book published

What did the Act of Supremacy do (3 things)

1. Papal supremacy rejected

2. Eliabeth named Supreme Governor

3. Royal visitation revived

Why was Royal Visitations being revived significant

Allowed the crown to reform, order, correct all abuses like heresy

Summarise what Act of Supremacy did?

Restored the legal position of the crown over the church

What did the Act of Uniformity do?

The new prayer book had to be used

What changes were made to the Book of Common Prayers in the Act of Uniformity

Black Rhubric was omitted

What was Calvinism

A more radical form of protestantism put forward by John Calvin

Give 3 ways Elizabeths council was weakened after 1580

1. Many ministers died in quick succession

2. Elizabeth often appointed the sons of previous ministers instead of the best choice

3. Burghly wasnt allowed to retire which created stress

What was the golden speech?

Speech given by Elizabeth in her final parliament which was so touching it apparently caused ministers to leave crying

What caused the relationship between parliament and Elizabeth to completely crumble in 1601

Issue of monopolies in the English economy

Why was Elizabeths status as a single woman an issue?

If she died suddenly she had no heir to take over

Why would it have been an issue if Dudley married Elizabeth (2 reasons)

1. Other ministers would get jealous, especially Cecil, and factionalism would start

2. Dudleys wife died in mysterious circumstances which wouldve started bad rumours

What had changed between the 1559 Parliament Succession meeting and the 1563 one?

Elizabeth caught smallpox so there was grave worry that she would die which would create a succession crisis

Who were the 2 emergency successors if Elizabeth died to smallpox?

Mary Queen of Scots
Lady Catherine Grey

How did Lady Catherine Grey destroy her public image?

Secretly marrying someone without the Queens permission

Why did MQS pose a threat to Elizabeth from the moment she became queen?

English Catholics saw her as the rightful monarch and she later was used as a figurehead in plots to overthrow Elizabeth

Why were the Treason Laws were made stricter (1 Event, 1 Response)

Event: Elizabeth was excommunicated in 1570 which meant the English Catholics didnt need to listen to her
Response: Elizabeth, scared, made it such that Protestants were loyal and Catholics were traitors

When and what was the aim of the Ridolfi plot?

1571 - Aimed for MQS to marry Duke of Norfolk and overthrow Elizabeth

What was the consequence of the Ridolfi plot?

Allowed minister Burghley to execute the Duke of Norfolk for treason

When and what was the aim of the Thockmorton plot?

1583 - Foreign forces landing in Sussex to replace Elizabeth with MQS

What was the consequences of the Thockmorton plot? (2 points)

1. Security on MQS tightened

2. Worsened Anglo-spanish relations

When and what was the aim of the Parry plot?

1585 - To assassinate Elizabeth

What were the consequences of the Parry plot?

Parliamentary proceedings for protecting Elizabeth were sped up

When and what was the Babington plot?

1586 - Mary complicit in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth

What were the consequences of the Babington plot?

MQS had to be executed as there was evidence she was now involved with the plots

Why was Elizabeth hesitant to execute MQS

They were cousins and she was an anointed monarch

Who was responsible for uncovering many of the plots?

Walsinghams SpiesW

What happened at Marys trial?

She was obviously guilty however Elizabeth commanded that no sentence was to be pronounced

How many months did Elizabeth try to prevent the execution of MQS

4 months

When did Elizabeth sign Marys death warrant

1st Feb 1587

How was Mary viewed by many English Catholics?

As a martyr for the Catholic faith

Why did the Anglo-Spanish relations worsen by 1570 (2 reasons)

1. John Hawkings was disrupting the Spanish monopoly in the Caribbean

2. England found chances to harass Spain

What was the situation in the Netherlands in 1560s? (2 points)

1. Dutch Protestants were rebelling against the Spanish rule of Phillip II who wanted to root out heresy against Catholicism

2. Protestant councillors pressured Elizabeth into aiding them, but she was reluctant

Why was Elizabeth reluctant to help the Dutch Protestants? (2 points)

1. Open support for the Protestants who were rebelling against Spain probably wouldve caused war, that England at the time could not win

2. Netherlands was a key trading partner of England but were currently under Spanish control, so if they created issues they could cut ties

What is the name of one of Englands harassment campaigns against the Spanish?

Genoese Loan

What was the Genoese Loan? (3 points)

1. Due to bad weather, some Spanish ships stopped at English ports on their way to supply troops for the Spanish occupation of Netherlands

2. Elizabeth seized the money they had on board that was intended to fund the Duke of Albas army

3. Since Spain were divided from dealing with Netherlands, they couldnt really respond immediately to this, but it greatly angered them and would set the stage for future conflict

How did Elizabeth get away with stealing money from spain?

She claimed that since it was a loan from rich Genoese Bankers it technically belonged to them and she was stealing from them

What did the Duke of Alba do in response to his funding being stolen by Elizabeth? (1 key aim, 2 methods to try to achieve that aim, explanation of how these methods would achieve this)

Tried to get Elizabeth to return the money by;
1. Seizing merchandise from English ships
2. Imposed a trade embargo on England

he hoped that by attacking Elizabeths economy she would return the money

What 3 factors soured Anglo-Spanish relations by the 1570s

1. The trade embargo between Spanish occupied Netherlands and England

2. Phillip II encouraged the Northern Rebellion and Ridolfi plot

3. Excommunication of Elizabeth

Who did the Genoese Loan incident indirectly help?

The Dutch Protestants, Spain were distracted by Elizabeth so their suppression of them was less severe

What happened in the Netherlands in 1576?

Pacification of Ghent

What was the Pacification of Ghent?

An agreement uniting the provinces of Netherlands against Spanish rule and promoted religious tolerance

Who played a part, though small, in the Pacification of Ghent happening?

Elizabeth when she indirectly helped the Dutch Protestants via the Genoese Loan

What did the Pacification actually want?

Expulsion of all foreign troops and the return to autonomous Dutch provinces

What greatly strengthened Spain in 1580?

The annexation of Portugal

How did Elizabeth show she was more anti-Spanish after 1580? (2 points)

1. Supported a Portuguese pretender

2. Knighted Francis Drake for circumnavigating the globe, during which he massively pissed off Spain

What did the Treaty of Joinville do and when was it?

1584 - France and Spain formed a Catholic alliance

Why was the treaty of Joinville bad news for Elizabeth? (2 points)

1. Increased the chances of MQS getting Spanish support

2. Strengthened the position of Catholic powers and heightened fears of aggression

How did Elizabeth attempt to counteract the Treaty of Joinville?

By signing the Treaty of Nonsuch with the Dutch Protestant rebels

What did the Treaty of Nonsuch do and when was it?

1585 - Sent troops to Netherlands under the Earl of Leicester

What happened after the Pacification of Ghent?

The provinces eventually divided into 2 opposing sides, the North was Protestant and the South was Catholic

How did Spain seize the opportunity created after the division of the Netherlands into 2 opposing sides

Immediately made peace with the South Catholic side and instilled the Duke of Parma to rule it

What plans did the Duke of Palma have?

Begin the reconquest of the Northen side

Who was the rebel leader of the Northern side of the Netherlands?

William Orange

How did the situation in the Netherlands worsen after 1580?

Parma’s reconquest was successful leaving only a few Northern provinces left and killing the rebel leader William Orange in 1584

What were the problems with the troops Elizabeth sent? (2 points)

1. The troops were very badly disciplined that they antagonised the Dutch

2. Earl of Leicester quarrelled with the Dutch which made them think Elizabeth had betrayed them for Parma

Give 2 key names of the soldiers sent to Netherlands that increased Dutch hostility towards England

William Stanley and Rowland Yorke both deserted and joined Parma

What delayed the sailing of the Armada?

English attack on Spanish ships at the harbour of Cadiz

What date did the Armada set sail?

22 July 1588

What was the objective of the Armada?

Sail to the Netherlands to join up with Parma, where he and the whole Spanish army

What were the 2 strategic views on how to make war with Spain?

1. Minimalist - concentrate resources in Netherlands to confront Duke of Parma

2. Naval - naval campaign as England had seen many victories in small-scale attacks

Why did England decide to go with the Naval strategy instead of the minimalist strategy?

War on foot in the Netherlands was expensive and England had won many small-scale battles at sea

What was 1 success and 1 failure in the war at sea in 1595?

Success - Capture and occupation of Cadiz
Failure - Hawkings and Drake both died at sea when their attack on the Spanish colony Panama failed

What was the significance of the capture of Cadiz?

Humiliated Phillip II and provoked him to send a fleet at England, but they were wiped out by storms

What was going on in Ireland during the 1590s?

A rebellion was being led by the Earl of Tyrone against English occupation of Ireland

Who did Tyrone receive support from?

Spain, they sent troops to aid the rebels

Give 3 ways the events of Tyrone in Ireland effected the War at Sea

1. England had to divert some fleets to Ireland, namely Elizabeth sent the Earl of Essex

2. Spain tried to land in Ireland many times, causing England to divert nearly its whole fleet towards preventing them

3. False intelligence caused mass widespread fear of invasion of England in 1599

Who was made commander of English forces in Netherlands in 1589?

Francis Vere

How were the Northern provinces of Netherlands recovered?

Francis Vere formed positive relations with province leaders and the Spanish soldiers mutinied regularly

By when had all Spanish forces been expelled from Northern Netherlands

1594

Were English objectives for Netherlands achieved?

Yes, the Northern side became an independent state that functioned autonomously and without being under control of a major power

Why did Elizabeth not create any more Dukes after 1572

All 4 Dukes who held titles before were all traitors

Which class increased in size during Elizabeths reign

Gentry

Give 2 reasons the gap between rich and poor increased over Elizabeths reign

1. Poorer people were more vulnerable to enclosure

2. Beginnings of consumer society

What did the Act of 1572 do in relation to poverty?

Richer people had to pay for the relief of the poor

What was the Poor Law Act and when was it passed

1576 - Towns had to employ the deserving poor

What did the Elizabethan Poor Law Act of 1601 do? (2 points)

1. Parishes set up which collected poor rates and evenly distributed them to the poor

2. Officers supervised by the JOP apprenticed young children

Although a step in the right direction, what group in society did the Poor Laws do nothing to help?

The ‘undeserving’ poor

What was the treatment of the ‘undeserving’ poor?

They should be whipped and later in 1597 second-time offenders would be executed

What was the punishment for refusing to pay the poor rate?

Prison

What was Elizabeths attitude towards Ireland?

She wanted it to resemble England

What year was Elizabeth proclaimed supreme governer of the Church of Ireland

1560

Why could Elizabeth not impose Protestantism on Ireland

Lacked the power to impose it on a mostly Catholic country that function very differently to England

Why did Elizabeth send Earl of Essex in 1599 to Ireland?

The rebels gained too much control over Ireland

What error did Earl of Essex make while in Ireland?

He confronted Tyrone but swore a truce with him, then returned to court. As soon as the truce expired Tyrone continued trying to link up with a Spanish army

What happened in Ireland after Earl of Essex was removed from his post for his failure? (2 points)

1. Under command of Lord Mountjoy Tyrone was pushed back until he negotiated peace

   1. Elizabeth was actually dead at this time which is why Mountjoy rushed negotiations in order to attend to King James

Where did most food riots take place? (3 locations)

London, Kent, Norfolk

Who headed the Northern Rebellion and when was it?

1569 - Lead by Northern nobility and the Earl of Northumberland

Did religion play a part in the Northern Rebellion?

Yes, both the leaders and participants had strong religious feelings

Give 2 political motivations of the Northern Rebellion

1. Duke of Norfolk to marry MQS who could be placed on Scottish throne

2. They felt dishonoured as they were removed from their traditional aristocratic role of controlling the Northern government

What is proof that the Northern Rebellion was Catholic in nature?

Seized the city of Durham and heard mass in the cathedral