1. Make sure her position as queen was not threatened by anyone
2. Arranged for her coronation to happen quickly, in January 1559
3. Drew up her plans for England's religion
As there was no police force or permanent army, keeping order relied upon everyone knowing their place in society
Hierarchy in the countryside
King/Queen
Nobility
Gentry
Yeomen
Tenant farmers
Landless or labouring poor
Unemployed, homeless
Hierarchy in towns
Merchants
Professionals
Business owners
Skilled craftsmen
Unskilled workers and the unemployed
Wherever you were in Elizabethan society, you had to respect and obey those above you and you had to care for those below you
Households were run along similar lines to society, with the husband and father as head of the household
Parts of Elizabethan government
The Court
The Privy Council
Parliament
Justices of the Peace
Lords Lieutenants
The Court
Made up of courtiers, nobles and important advisers. Had no power but could influence the monarch. Its role was to entertain as well as advise the monarch.
The Privy Council
Made up of 19 Privy Councillors. Met three times a week, usually with Elizabeth in charge. Its role was to advise the monarch on government policy, carry out the monarch's decisions, and check what the Justices of the Peace were doing.
The two houses of Parliament
House of Lords
House of Commons
House of Lords
Made up of noblemen and bishops
House of Commons
Made up of MPs who were voted for by male landowners
Role of Parliament
To grant extraordinary taxation if the monarch needed more money
To pass laws (Acts of Parliament)
Elizabeth I said it was her right to stop parliament talking about foreign policy, who she might marry, and who might be monarch next - the succession
Divine right
Belief that the monarch's right to rule came from God
Patronage
Giving someone encouragement, wealth or support. For example, Elizabeth gave patronage to explorers by giving them money for their voyages and praising their efforts.
Crown
(with a capital 'C') Refers to the monarch and his or her government
Foreign policy
How one country decides to behave towards another country
Succession
Deciding who is going to become king or queen after the monarch dies
It was unusual, and it was also thought to be unnatural, for a woman to rule as queen
The Christian religion taught that women should obey men
Monarchs were also expected to lead their armies into battle and this would not have been seen as a suitable thing for a woman to do
Legitimate
Born to parents who are married
Roman Catholic
The form of Christianity followed by most people up until the 16th century. The pope was the head of the Catholic Church.
Treason
Trying to kill the monarch or badly damage the country
Heir
Someone who, by law, takes on a title and the property of another person such as king or queen, when that person dies
Many Catholics did not believe Henry VIII had the right to give himself a divorce. They said he was still married to Catherine of Aragon.
When Anne Boleyn gave birth to Elizabeth, many refused to accept that she was legitimate
Reign
The length of time a king or queen rules a country
Protestants
Protestants were Christians but they did not accept the pope as their religious leader. Nor did they agree with some Catholic teachings.
Politics
How to get, keep and use power
Stereotype
An exaggerated idea of what someone or something is like
Protestants
Christians who did not accept the pope as their religious leader and disagreed with some Catholic teachings
Women were not thought to be capable of ruling. Even in the home the husband was head of the house. It was unusual for women to be in a position of power
Many people thought that Elizabeth should marry. However, she did not want to
Elizabeth turned down offers of marriage from her brother-in-law Philip II of Spain, King Eric of Sweden, and the heir to the French throne, the Duke of Alençon
Elizabeth I
Highly intelligent
Confident, with a strong personality
Well educated - she spoke Latin, Greek, French and Italian
Excellent grasp of politics
Could make great speeches and win people over
Had a temper that people feared
Often took a long time to make up her mind, which could be frustrating for her advisers
England's monarchs could not do whatever they pleased. They needed money and support to rule successfully
When Elizabeth took the throne, the Crown was £300,000 in debt, which was a huge sum in 1558. The Crown usually only earned about £286,667 per year