Comprehensive Study Guide for Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588

Overview of Elizabethan England ($1558-1588$)

• Context of the Era: The reign of Elizabeth I ($1558-1588$) was a period defined by navigating profound religious, political, and social volatility.

• Global Transition: During this period, England transitioned toward becoming a global naval power.

• Existential Threats: The Crown faced threats from both domestic dissent and international powers, most notably Spain.

• Key Themes of Study:

  • The intricate balance of power within the Privy Council.

  • The evolution of the Religious Settlement.

  • The persistent issue of poverty and vagabondage.

  • The escalation of Anglo-Spanish commercial rivalry.

  • The expansion of maritime exploration and the failure of the Virginia colonies.

Edexcel GCSE History: Assessment Structure and Strategy

• Mastering Exam Technique: Success in the Unit $2$ Early Elizabethan England assessment requires specific strategies for different question types.

• Question Type $1$: "Describe two features of…" ($4$ marks):

  • Goal: Provide two specific, distinct features of a given topic.

  • Strategy: Write two separate paragraphs. Each must identify a unique feature and provide supporting detailed information such as dates, names, or specific actions.

  • Exemplar (Threat posed by Mary, Queen of Scots):

    • Feature $1$: Many Catholics believed that due to the nature of Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, Elizabeth was illegitimate. Consequently, they viewed Mary, Queen of Scots, as the rightful Catholic heir to the throne.

    • Feature $2$: Mary served as a focal point for Catholic plots. An example is the $1571$ Ridolfi plot, which was organized by an Italian banker and supported by the Pope with the intent to replace Elizabeth with Mary.

• Question Type $2$: "Explain why…" ($12$ marks):

  • Goal: Explain the causes or reasons for a historical event using depth of knowledge.

  • Strategy: Utilize the PEA method across three well-developed paragraphs:

    • Point (P): Clearly state the specific reason.

    • Evidence (E): Provide specific historical evidence and evidence-based details.

    • Analysis (A): Explicitly explain how the stated reason led directly to the historical outcome or event.

• Question Type $3$: "How far do you agree?" ($16$ marks + SPaG):

  • Goal: Evaluate the relative importance of different factors and formulate a reasoned judgment.

  • Strategy:

    • Introduction: Establish a clear criteria for judgment (e.g., identifying the most significant cause or the factor with the greatest impact).

    • Argumentation: Write paragraphs that both agree and disagree with the prompt’s statement, supported by detailed evidence.

    • Conclusion: Formulate a final clear judgment based on the established criteria. Do not merely repeat previous points; explain why one specific factor was more significant than the others.

The Launch of the Spanish Armada ($1588$)

• Religious Motivations: Philip II of Spain intended to support English Catholics and overthrow Elizabeth I to restore Catholicism. This effort was significantly bolstered by the Pope, who encouraged the invasion.

• Political Factors: Relations between England and Spain deteriorated after Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch in $1585$, which provided funding for Dutch Protestants rebelling against Spanish rule. Elizabeth further challenged Spanish authority by appointing the Earl of Leicester as Governor-General in the Netherlands.

• Exploration and Commercial Rivalry: English privateers, specifically Sir Francis Drake, were a constant source of irritation for Philip II. Drake raided Spanish ships and colonies in the New World. His knighthood by Elizabeth after circumnavigating the globe in $1577$ served as a significant trigger for the Spanish invasion.

Vagabondage and Economic Instability

• Population Growth: The population increased by approxmately $35\%$. This created a higher demand for food and housing, driving up prices and rent while wages remained stagnant.

• Transition to Sheep Farming: Landowners converted arable land into sheep farms because the wool trade was highly profitable. This transition required fewer laborers, leading to significant job losses in rural areas and forcing people to migrate to towns to find work.

• Economic Decline: Trade restrictions with the Netherlands negatively impacted the cloth trade, which was a cornerstone of the English economy, leading to further unemployment and instability.

• Analytical Approach: When evaluating these factors, students must weigh whether population growth was the root cause or if other factors were merely "enabling" factors that exacerbated existing conditions.

Society and Government in $1558$

• Social Hierarchy: Elizabethan society was strictly hierarchical. The order from top to bottom was:

  • Nobility.

  • Gentry.

  • Yeomen.

  • Skilled craftsmen.

  • The homeless, unemployed, and vagrants at the base of the structure.

• Patriarchal Structure: Society was male-dominated; the husband and father served as the absolute head of the household.

• The Structure of Government:

  • The Monarch: Believed to rule by "Divine Right," meaning they were chosen by God.

  • Secretary of State: Served as the Queen’s most important and influential advisor.

  • The Court: A body of nobles who lived with the Queen, providing both entertainment and informal advice.

  • The Privy Council: A group of key officials responsible for discussing policy and providing formal advice to the Queen.

  • Parliament: An institution called and dismissed at the Queen's discretion; its primary functions were to pass laws and grant the Queen money (taxes).

  • Lords Lieutenant: Noblemen responsible for a specific county, overseeing the local militia and enforcing royal policies.

  • Justices of the Peace (JPs): Large landowners who maintained local order and presided over court cases.

Religion and the $1559$ Religious Settlement

• The Reformation: Beginning around $1517$, this movement created deep religious divides in England.

• Catholicism: Centered primarily in the North and West of England. They believed the Pope was the head of the Church and conducted services in Latin.

• Protestantism: Centered in the South and East. They believed the monarch should be the head of the Church and conducted services in English.

• Puritans: Extreme Protestants who sought to "purify" the Church of England by removing all traces of Catholicism, such as ornate vestments and crucifixes (which they viewed as "idols").

• The Religious Settlement ($1559$): A three-part legislative attempt to find a "Middle Way":

  • Act of Supremacy: Established Elizabeth as the "Supreme Governor" of the Church of England.

  • Act of Uniformity: Mandated that everyone attend church on Sundays and holy days; failure to do so resulted in a fine.

  • Royal Injunctions: A set of specific instructions for worship that officially banned "fake miracles" and the practice of pilgrimages.

Catholic Threats and Plots

• Mary, Queen of Scots: Remained a permanent threat due to her Catholic faith and her strong lineage-based claim to the throne.

• Major Plots Against Elizabeth:

  • Revolt of the Northern Earls ($1569$): Led by the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland. Aimed to restore Catholic influence and name a Catholic heir.

  • Ridolfi Plot ($1571$): Involved Roberto Ridolfi, Philip II of Spain, and Mary. The goal was to murder Elizabeth and install Mary on the throne.

  • Throckmorton Plot ($1583$): Involved Throckmorton, the Duke of Guise, and Philip II. Planned for a French invasion to restore Catholicism.

  • Babington Plot ($1586$): Involved Anthony Babington and Mary. Aimed to murder Elizabeth and incite a general Catholic rebellion. This plot eventually provided the evidence needed for Mary's execution.

• Walsingham’s Spy Network: Sir Francis Walsingham, the Secretary of State, established an extensive network of informers and used ciphers to intercept messages. This intelligence led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in $1587$ under the Act for the Preservation of the Queen’s Safety.

Commercial and Foreign Rivalry with Spain

• Foreign Policy Goals: Elizabeth aimed to protect borders, avoid the expense of war, and improve the economy through trade.

• Conflict in the New World: England and Spain clashed over trade route control. Privateers like Sir Francis Drake attacked Spanish ports and ships, seizing massive amounts of treasure.

• Tension in the Netherlands: In $1567$, Spain dispatched the Duke of Alba to the Netherlands to crush Protestantism. This alarmed Elizabeth due to the presence of a large Spanish army so close to England.

• Elizabeth’s Indirect Tactics: To pressure Spain without open war, Elizabeth supported Dutch Protestants, encouraged privateer raids, and sought a marriage alliance with the French Duke of Alençon.

• Spanish Fury ($1576$): Spanish troops mutinied and sacked the city of Antwerp. This led to the "Pacification of Ghent," which demanded Spanish troop removal and Dutch autonomy.

• Direct Intervention ($1585$): Following the deaths of the Duke of Alençon and the rebel leader William of Orange in $1584$, Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch. She sent Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, with $74000$ troops.

• Failure of the Netherlands Campaign:

  1. Elizabeth failed to commit sufficient money or resources.

  2. Elizabeth and Dudley had conflicting objectives; Elizabeth wanted a return to the status quo of $1548$, while Dudley sought full Dutch independence.

  3. The Dutch grew to distrust Elizabeth due to her inconsistent support.

The Defeat of the Spanish Armada ($1588$)

• Immediate Provocation: In $1587$, Francis Drake raided the harbor of Cadiz, an action known as "singeing the King of Spain’s beard," which delayed the Armada's preparations.

• Spanish Position: Spain had controlled Portugal since $1580$, and the Duke of Parma was enjoying military success in the Netherlands.

• Reasons for English Victory:

  • Ship Design: English galleons were designed to be faster and more maneuverable than the large, cumbersome Spanish vessels.

  • Tactics: At the Battle of Gravelines, the English utilized fireships to scatter the Spanish fleet.

  • Logistics/Communication: The Spanish suffered from poor communication and lack of supplies. The Duke of Parma could not link his forces with the fleet of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in time.

  • Weather: Significant portions of the Spanish fleet were destroyed by violent storms occurring off the coast of Scotland.

• Consequences: The victory boosted English national morale, solidified Elizabeth's reputation as a strong leader, and signaled the beginning of a long-term decline in Spanish power.

Education, Literacy, and Leisure

• Education: There was no national system. Children of the nobility studied Latin, Greek, music, and physical skills like fencing and riding. Grammar schools for boys used rote learning and focused heavily on classical philosophy and Latin.

• Literacy Rates: By the end of Elizabeth's reign, literacy was approximately $30\%$ for men and $10\%$ for women.

• Leisure Activities:

  • Nobility: Engaged in hunting, fishing, and fencing.

  • Working Class: Participated in football, bear-baiting, and cock-fighting.

  • General Culture: Theatre and music saw a significant rise in popularity across social classes.

Poverty Legislation and Exploration

• Poverty Legislation:

  • Statute of Artificers ($1563$): Encouraged the collection of poor relief.

  • Vagabonds Act ($1572$): Aimed to deter vagrancy through harsh punishments, including whipping and imprisonment.

  • Poor Relief Act ($1576$): Required local officials to provide raw materials (such as wool) to the unemployed so they could work.

• Exploration Motivations: Driven by a desire for new trade routes and technological advances like the astrolabe and quadrant.

• The Virginia Project ($1585$): Organized by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by Richard Grenville, Ralph Lane, and Thomas Harriot.

• Reasons for Failure in Virginia:

  • Timing: The expedition arrived too late in the year to plant crops.

  • Relations: Initial reliance on Native Americans turned into violent conflict due to misunderstandings and shortages.

  • Roanoke ($1587-1590$): A second attempt vanished; John White returned to find the colony deserted with no trace of the settlers.