Elizabethan England c1568-1603

• Elizabeth's strengths

  • Parents: English parents, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII
  • Education: Elizabeth was one of the most educated women of her generation
  • Popularity: Elizabeth was popular with many people in England
  • Key fact: Remember PEP - Parents, Education, and Popularity
• Economy and society

  • The Elizabethans believed in the Great Chain of Being
  • Poverty was considered to be the individual's fault
  • The Poor Laws were introduced during Elizabeth's reign to support the poor and unemployed
  • Elizabeth's reign was seen as a 'golden age' of culture
• Religion

  • In the 16th century, England was divided by religion
  • Elizabeth changed the official religion to Protestantism but allowed some Catholic traditions to be practised
  • Elizabeth's tolerant 'middle-way' faced threats and plots from Catholics and Puritans
  • Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity
• Elizabeth came to power in 1558 and inherited an unstable kingdom
• Some feared a female ruler meant that England would continue to be seen as a weak country
• Elizabeth became queen aged just 25 after the death of her brother Edward VI and sister Mary I
• Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
• Foreign affairs

  • Elizabeth faced challenges from France and Spain during her reign
  • France and Spain were more powerful, wealthier, and Catholic
  • Elizabeth secured England's security by thwarting plots and facing threats from Catholic plotters
  • England's victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 was a highpoint for Elizabeth
• Key themes

  • Government
  • Religion
  • Economy and society
  • Law and order
  • Foreign affairs
• Government

  • Queen Elizabeth I was sovereign of England
  • She surrounded herself with a loyal group of advisers called the Privy Council
  • Elizabeth tightly controlled Parliament and set the agenda of what it was allowed to discuss and pass laws about
  • Parliament became more influential during her reign and was in conflict with Elizabeth over issues such as religion, marriage, and her monopoly licences
• Parliament met 13 times in Elizabeth's 45-year reign for an average of three weeks per year
• Elizabeth's challenges included Gender, Religion, Invasion, and Money
• Elizabethan Parliament was less powerful and not fully representative of the population
• Privy Council


  • Advised Elizabeth but did not control her
  • Initially met three times a week during her reign and later met every day
  • Advised on domestic and foreign issues, relations with foreign ambassadors, and supervising the enforcement of the Religious Settlement
• Privy Council

  1. Consisted of 19 chosen noblemen to advise Elizabeth I on domestic and foreign issues

  2. Met every day
• Key fact: Remember PEP - Parents, Education and Popularity
• Elizabeth was popular with many people in England and her reign was seen as a fresh start
• Religion issue


  Elizabeth was Protestant and re-instated the Church of England, offering a 'middle-way' to avoid religious conflict
• Elizabeth's control over Parliament

  • Could only meet if Elizabeth called it and set the agenda
  • Could only discuss what Elizabeth allowed
  • Mainly used to grant her taxes
  • Could be closed by Elizabeth at any time
  • Elizabeth ensured her Privy Councillors sat in Parliament to help control proceedings
• Marriage issue

  Some MPs felt Elizabeth should name a suitor to marry and produce an heir, but Elizabeth considered it her private business
• Elizabeth was one of the most educated women of her generation
• During Elizabeth's reign, MPs became more assertive and influential


  Were in conflict with Elizabeth over marriage, religion, freedom of speech, and monopolies issues
• Freedom of speech issue

  In 1576, Peter Wentworth was sent to the Tower of London for a month for complaining about MPs not being free to discuss whatever they liked
• Elizabeth's first key task

  Surround herself with trusted advisers, a group called the Privy Council
• Monopolies issue

  Monopolies intended to promote business and boost the economy, but led to price rises due to control over supply by individuals
• Disadvantages of Elizabeth not announcing a marriage

  • Ongoing uncertainty over succession could lead to plots and attacks to overthrow Elizabeth
  • Frustration among Privy Councillors and MPs due to unsettled succession
• Some MPs felt monopolies were unfair and being abused towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign
• Elizabeth kept her thoughts on marriage private
• Elizabeth may have chosen not to marry to protect England’s security and remain independent of foreign influence
• Monopolies issue

  • Monopolies gave individual nobles and merchants the sole right to manufacture or sell particular goods
  • Elizabeth intended for monopolies to promote business and boost the economy
  • One person controlling the supply of a particular product led to price rises
  • Elizabeth made money from granting monopoly licences
• Elizabeth compromised and withdrew some monopolies after protests
• Advantages of Elizabeth not announcing a marriage

  • Staying single allowed Elizabeth to keep sole control of English affairs
  • Refusal to choose between suitors enabled her to play countries off against each other
  • Remained the focus of all power with no apparent successor
• Elizabeth: 'Her ‘Golden Speech’ showed her to be a clever and shrewd ruler'
• MPs protested against monopolies in 1597-8 and 1601 and would not grant taxes until they had been withdrawn
• Wentworth complained that MPs were not free to discuss whatever they liked


  Elizabeth sent him to the Tower of London for a month for speaking out
• Elizabeth is the only English queen never to marry
• Advantages and disadvantages of Elizabeth not announcing a marriage
• Elizabeth's religious settlement under Protestantism avoided the traumatic extremism of previous reigns
• Elizabeth considered marrying Archduke Charles of Austria in 1567, but the match did not happen due to religious differences
• Marriage negotiations with Francis Duke of Alencon lasted nearly a decade, but he died in 1584