AQA GCSE History Elizabethan England Key Facts

Who was Elizabeth's Father?

Henry VIII

Who was Elizabeth's Mother?

Anne Boleyn

What does 'Divine Right' mean?

The idea that God alone appoints the Monarch, so to challenge Monarch is to challenge God

What religion was Elizabeth?

Protestant

Which group was made up of noblemen who advised the queen, but also displayed her power?

The Court

What was the Privy Council?

Members of the Nobility who oversaw running the country

What were JP's?

Justices of the Peace- Kept Law and heard court cases

What was Parliament's main role?

To approve taxation and pass laws

Why was fashion so important in the Tudor Court?

If you were in the wrong clothes, you would lose favour/not be let into court

List 3 of Elizabeth's closest ministers

William Cecil, Robert Dudley, Francis Walsingham (etc.)

What was William Cecil's role in government?

Secretary of State

What was Francis Walsingham's role in government?

Spy Master

How many times did Elizabeth I call Parliament in her reign?

10

List two issues Parliament discussed in Elizabeth's reign.

Taxes, succession, Religion, poor

Which MP was arrested twice by Elizabeth for discussing things forbidden by the Queen?

Peter Wentworth

Why was Elizabeth marrying so important?

So she could have a male heir/Avoid a Civil War

List 3 suitors to Elizabeth I

Robert Dudley, Philip II, Henry Duke of Anjou, Eric of Sweden, Charles IX

Why was Elizabeth unpopular in the last years of her reign?

Essex Rebellion, Older Elizabeth, Bad harvests, factionalism

What was the cause of the Oxfordshire Rising in 1596?

Food shortages

Who was the Earl of Essex?

Robert Devereux?

What year was the Essex Rebellion?

1601

Why did Essex rebel against Elizabeth?

Humiliation, Military failure, factionalism, finance

Why did the Essex Rebellion fail?

Overestimated support, Spies in Essex's camp

What was the 'Great Chain of Being?'

The Tudor order of society

What was the order of the 'Great Chain of Being'?

God, Monarch, Nobility, Gentry, Farmers/Peasants, Vagrants

What percentage of people didn't own their own land in England?

90%

What were the Sumptuary Laws, 1574, about?

Restricted what people could wear

What was the population of England in 1600?

About 4 Million

What was the 'Rise of the Gentry?'

Refers to how the Gentry grew in size, wealth and Influence during Elizabeth's reign

Which city grew in prosperity during Elizabeth's reign?

London

What did the Gentry build as a sign of their growing wealth?

Country Manors

List three features of an Elizabethan Theatre?

Pit, Stage, Gallery, Trap Door

What type of plays were performed before the Elizabethan Era?

Mystery Plays

What external feature showed your wealth in a country house?

Glass

What is a 'Progress'?

When Elizabeth would travel and stay with her courtiers

Why was the theatre accessible to all classes?

Because it had a rage of price points

What is Patronage?

Gaining support/money/favour with a wealthy patron

Why did Puritans dislike plays?

They thought it encouraged sinful behaviour

From which year did players have to have a Patron?

1572

Who checked over plays to make sure they were acceptable?

Master of the Revels

What word described homeless people in Elizabeth's reign?

Vagabonds

List 3 reasons for poverty in Elizabeth's reign:

Population Grown, Bad Harvests, Enclosure, Increasing demands for land

What were the two, traditional types of poor?

Deserving/Impotent poor, Idle poor

What was the punishment for being a vagabond?

Whipping, branding, sent back 'home', hung

What did the 1572 Vagabond Act do?

Harsher punishments for Vagrants- Death penalty for third offence

What year was the Elizabethan Poor Law?

1601

What did the Elizabethan Poor Law introduce?

Care in 'almshouses', able bodies sent to 'houses of industry', children became apprentices

How effective was the Elizabethan Poor Law?

Good- Became Gov issue, Bad- still didn't deal with underlying issues

What did John Hawkins trade with the West Indies in 1562?

African Slaves

What feat did Francis Drake complete in 1580?

Circumnavigated the globe

Why was the Elizabethan Era a time of Exploration?

Trade, Standardised Maps, New Technology, Safer and Faster Ships, Private Funding

Why did Drake circumnavigate the globe?

Attacking Spain, Revenge, Profit

What were the benefits of the circumnavigation?

England's reputation, Trade expanded, Colonies, Profit

What was Privateering?

Legal' piracy. English ships often privateered Spanish silver

What route was Martin Frobisher trying to find?

North-West Passage

What was set up in 1600 to trade with China, India and the East?

East India Company

Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?

An influential courtier and explorer during Elizabeth's reign

What religion was England before Elizabeth's reign?

Catholic

List three differences between Catholic & Protestants

Leaders of Church, Decoration, Language, Bible, Ceremonies

What did the Act of Supremacy do in 1559?

Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of the Church

What did the Act of Uniformity do in 1559?

Established appearances of churches and religious services.

What was the Book of Common Prayer, 1559?

Introduces a set church service, has to be used or clergy punished

What was a 'Vestment'?

Robe worn by a Priest. Traditionally Catholic, but Elizabeth allowed it

What was a Puritan?

An extreme Protestant, Aimed for a simple life.

What year was the Northern Rebellion?

1569

What were the aims of the Northern Rebellion?

Wanted to make England Catholic, put MQoS on throne

Why did the Northern Rebellion fail?

Support from Spain never arrived, many landowners were loyal to Elizabeth

What did the Pope do to Elizabeth in 1570?

She was Excommunicated

What were the consequences of Elizabeth being Excommunicated?

Encouraged war against her, England treated Catholics harshly, Encouraged MQoS

What year was the Ridolfi Plot?

1570

What were the aims of the Ridolfi Plot?

Murder Elizabeth, start a Spanish Invasion, Put MQoS on throne & marry Duke of Norfolk

Why was the Ridolfi Plot stopped?

William Cecil discovered the plot, Norfolk was executed

What were Recusants?

Secret Catholics who did not attend English church services

What were Jesuits?

Catholic group from Spain with the mission to convert people

What year was the Throckmorton Plot?

1583

How was the Throckmorton Plot discovered?

Francis Walsingham's spies told him about it

What year was the Babington Plot?

1586

How was the Babington Plot discovered?

Francis Walsingham intercepted letters between Babington and Mary

Why was the Babington Plot linked to Mary Queen of Scots?

She approved of the plans. It forced Elizabeth's hand

When was Mary Queen of Scots Executed?

1587

Why was Mary Queen of Scots Executed?

Her part in the Babington Plot

What were the policies of Archbishop Parker, 1559-1575?

Ensure people conformed to the 1559 religious settlement

What were the policies of Archbishop Grindal, 1575-1583?

Reluctant to persecute Puritans

What were the policies of Archbiship Whitgift, 1583-1604?

Opposed Puritans and actions taken against them

Why was Mary Queen of Scots a problem for Elizabeth?

A Catholic claimant to the throne

Why did Mary have to leave Scotland in 1568?

The mysterious death of her husband, Earl of Darnley

How does Elizabeth deal with Mary 1568-1586?

Keeps her under house arrest in various manors in England

What impact did the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre have on England?

Protestants feared slaughter from Catholics if Mary became Queen

What were the reasons for conflict between England and Spain?

Religion, Political, Financial

How much Spanish treasure did Drake return with after his circumnavigation?

£400,000

What year was the Cadiz raid on Spain?

1587

What were the consequnces of the Cadiz raid?

Delayed the Armada, 30 Ships destroyed

How were the English ships designed?

Quicker, Reload quickly, Mounted small cannons

What year did the Armada attack England?

1588

List 3 reasons why the English won against Spain in 1588?

Leadership, Provisions, Tactics, Communication, Weather, English Ships