Elizabeth's Court & Parliament

Created by

Jemima

Cards (60)

Golden Age propoganda
The idea was encouraged by Elizabeth & her government
Plays, festivals & pamphlets promoted it
Gloriana was used to describe the spreading of the message
A useful way to secure popularity & the throne for Elizabeth
The Golden Age is a 'myth'?
Blood sports remained popular - dog fighting & bear baiting
Torture & brutal execution were still used by the government
Minority lived in luxury - majority remained poor
Life expectancy was low & ineffective medical treatments
Practices were questionable - alchemy & astrology were popular
Exploration in the GA
Europeans discovered new lands & people
England became a major world power
Theatre in the GA
Became popular with all levels of society
First permanent theatres were built
Buildings in the GA
Many great stately homes were built - Hardwick Hall
Houses weren't built with defence in mind
Literature in the GA
Many great plays were written
Poetry was very popular
Education in the GA
Seen as increasingly important
Wealthy boys & some girls received an education - the poor did not
Science & Technology in the GA
Breakthroughs in navigation, astronomy & a growing understanding in magnetism
Improved printing presses - information could spread quicker
Peace, power & pride in the GA
Elizabeth brough stability & security to the country - the reigns of Henry VII, Edward VI & Mary I brought political stability but religious turmoil
England's growing wealth & military success made subjects proud
Art in the GA
Portraits - very popular & contained symbolism
Decorative silverware & textiles - important signs of wealth & culture
Golden Age accomplishments
Art
Peace, power & pride
Science & technology
Education
Literature
Buildings
Theatre
Exploration
Why go to the theatre?
Cheap afternoon for the poor
A way to show how cultured the rich were
Although in different parts everyone watched the same play
How was the theatre arranged?
It mimicked the Great Chain of Being
The rich sat higher than the poorer who had to stand
Opposition to the theatre
Some saw it as sinful
Puritans saw theatregoing as a distraction from prayer
Large gatherings could spread disease
They were dangerous places - drunkenness, crime & other immoral behaviour
Why was the theatre popular?
Affordable
New & exciting
Social event
Entertaining
Contemporary & relevant to the time - plays carried political messages
How did the theatre change during the Elizabethan period?
The first permanent theatres were built
Both rich and poor now attended instead of just ordinary people
Who were theatre troupes named after?
Named after the people who provided their funding - the patron
Being a patron was a good way to impress the queen who was very fond of the theatre
Example - Lord Chamberlain's Men
Hardwick Hall
Bess of Hardwick built Hardwick Hall between 1590-97. One of the grandest houses in England & was away to show her wealth & societal position
Rise of the Gentry
Before Elizabeth's reign, almost all wealth was held by the nobility. The stability that the Elizabethan period brought began to change this. People could make money from trade. The gentry grew as a result and began to fill powerful positions by becoming members of Parliament and Justices of the Peace.
The Peasantry 
worked as farm labourers
rising population & agricultural failures made work scare & many lived in poverty
poorest members of society
The Gentry
Wealthy landowners
Lived on the rents of their tenants
Income from £10 to £200 a year
many were Justices of the Peace or Members of Parliament
Some were given title of knight or esquire
Might be richer than nobles but still below in the GCoB
The Nobility
Most powerful
Landowners
Held the most senior positions - Key members of the court
average income of £6000 a year
Born into the position - rarely appointed by the queen
Special privileges - eg. protection from torture
The Great Chain of Being
1) God
2) Queen
3) Nobility
4) Gentry
5) Peasantry
6) Animals & Plants
7) Hell
Challenge of women in 1500s
Elizabeth was a female ruler in a time when women did not hold positions of authority
Consequences of Essex rebellion
Essex was put on trial for treason & sentenced to death
Named fellow rebels
Executed in private on 25th Feb 1601 - Liz made it clear her authority would not be challenged
Essex Rebellion 1601
Feb 1601: took 4 Privy Councillors hostage along with 200 supporters through London
Robert Cecil labelled him a traitor - lost supporters & some unleashed the hostages through panic
Essex & the remaining were arrested
Causes of the Essex rebellion 
- after his success in Cadiz he had an argument with Liz - placed under house arrest
- Liz sent him to Ireland to deal with a rebellion - he agreed a truce which was against Liz's orders
- Essex fell out of favour = lost his sweet wine monopoly
- angry he began to father supporters and started plotting
Essex Rebellion background
- he had been a loyal subject of Elizabeth throughout her reign and became a Privy Councillor in 1595 - one of her faves
- he developed a rivalry with Robert Cecil
- he pleased Elizabeth in 1596 after successfully attacking the Spanish port of Cadiz
How did Liz manage Parliament?
- issued regular statements about her authority and arresting a MPs who criticised her
- ability to dismiss Parliament whenever
- appoint members to House of Lords
- her Privy Councillors and nobles managed Parliament to ensure that her wishes were clear
Freedom of Speech in Liz's parliament
Wentworth was arrested 3 times for arguing about freedom of speech - some supported him but others didn't. One of his arrests was ordered by fellow MPs to show the support of Liz
Monopolies in Liz's parliament
- helped maintain the loyalty of powerful men eg. Earl of Essex's sweet wine
- 1571: Robert Bell called them unfair - Liz said she'd make changes
- 1601: Liz made a speech saying she'd make major changes but didn't promise a lot
Crime & poverty in Liz's poverty
- many MPs recognised punishing the poor didn't work
- introduced poor laws - 1601 poor law was their first successful attempt
Religion in Liz's parliament
- majority in both houses were Protestants and supported her religious settlement - when introducing laws against Catholics she found support
- Puritanism was disagreed about
- powerful puritans in parliament tried to change laws unsuccessfully about Church of England
Marriage & Succession under Liz's parliament 
- many saw it as their duty to find her a husband
- 1566 discussed it openly - Elizabeth was angry at them & banned them talking about it
- Elizabeth saw marriage as her own decision
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester 
A childhood friend & personal favourite - many assumed they were in love
Key figure in the royal court & Privy Council member
Wife died but its scandal prohibited marriage to Elizabeth
King Philip II of Spain
One of the wealthiest & most powerful men
Married to Mary but rarely visited & no heir produced
Catholic
Francis Duke of Anjou and Alencon 
The French kings brother - heir to his throne
Marriage proposed at 46 - couldn't have children - a childless marriage could result in England under French control
He was Catholic
Court was against marriage
Elizabeth's 3 most important suitors
Duke of Alencon
King Philip II of Spain
Robert Dudley
Who was Liz married to?
'The kingdom of England' - focus on ruling her country and keep England secure & independent
Arguments against marriage
- Loss of authority to foreign ruler or Englishman
- Giving birth risky for mother
- Experience of bad marriage: father married 6 times, ordered mother execution & sister's marriage to Philip of Spain was unhappy, didn't produce heir
- Could use possibility of marriage to advantage when dealing with foreign leaders & important figures in England