History: Elizabeth

• Her early life


  Her mother Anne Boelyn was executed by her father when she was 3, traumatised, can't trust men.

  She's a woman.

  Mary I imprisoned Liz in the tower of London.
• Her early challenges


  She's unmarried with no children.

  People question her ability to rule.

  At war with France and no allies.

  Mary left us in huge debts - people in poverty: rebel.

  She wants to re-establish Protestantism.
• MRS FIT (M)

  Mary Queen of Scots is next in line to the throne - Liz has no heir.

  Catholic - alternate queen to fight for: threat.
• MRS FIT (R)

  Religion - Her father had broken from the Catholic Church for divorce.

  Before Liz, Mary tried to restore Catholicism: Liz is Protestant.

  She didn't want to make enemies so she allowed Catholics to follow faith privately - believe she had no right to be queen.
• MRS FIT (S)

  Succession - Liz is yet to produce an heir.

  1562: Liz almost died of small pox = uncertain future.
• MRS FIT (F)

  Foreign policy - Many countries saw her as weak and open to attack.

  Spain was Catholic and had the support of the Pope: tensions rise.
• MRS FIT (I)

  Ireland - Liz considered herself Queen of IRE: many Irish disagreed, Revolt in Northern Ireland 1559.

  She spent thousands of £ to limit the revolt.
• MRS FIT (T)


  Taxation - Government needed money: done through taxes.

  Poverty: raising taxes was dangerous and unpopular.
• Cecil 


  Encouraged Liz to take control of Catholic Ireland.

  Encouraged a fight over Catholic rivals in England.

  He played a role in developed the poor laws.

  He served as secretary of state.
• Walsingham 


  Liz's spy master.

  He played a role in Mary queen of Scots execution.

  He aided the Liz form her status as powerful at sea.

  One of her closest advisors.
• Parliament 


  Made up of the house of Lord, Bishops but also commoners.

  They suggest and pass laws - raise taxes.

  They only met 10 times.

  Had NO influence - Arguments, She does need them to pass laws but not all.
• Privy Council 


  They met 3 times a week.

  Made up of the most important men in ENG - her main advisors, 19 men including Cecil.

  Debate current issues.

  YES they had influence - have the most power over the queen, hard to disagree with.
• The 3 P's (Patronage)

  To show favour, Liz would give male members of her court political positions in her government.

  Very important jobs.

  Often caused rivalries but also caused them to be more loyal: fought to be favoured.
• The 3 P's (Progresses)

  Most summers Liz travels with her court on progresses, visiting the homes of the nobility: to build relations and flatter nobles.

  Court moves house to house with 400 wagons pilled with clothes, documents even Liz's bed.

  Allows Liz to save money, living in luxury.
• The 3 P's (Performance)

  The court entertains the queen and her courtiers.

  Lavish banquets, masquerade balls, plays and tournaments - all propaganda.

  The performances followed strict rules and were well rehearsed.
• Arguments for Marriage 


  Love.

  Alliances with other countries if she married a foreigner.

  If she married an Englishman - powerful men in privy council.

  An heir to deal with the problem succession.

  Protestant: spread

  Catholic: mend tension.
• Arguments against Marriage 


  Is she queen or wife? - power struggle.

  A foreigner could take all her power.

  Creates jealously in the Privy council.

  She has no trust in men: her dad killed her mother.

  Protestant: anger Catholic.

  Catholic: anger Protestant.
• Duke Francis of Anjou 


  Could lead to influence in France: he is heir to the French throne.

  HOWEVER - Liz is now 46 and beyond children: she could die.

  If she died, ENG would fall under French control. He is catholic so this will anger Prots.
• Robert Dudley 


  Her childhood friend.

  A scandal of his wife's death made their marriage impossible.

  He is a key figure in the royal court - would create jealously in the Privy council.
• The Golden age (Yes)


  Peace, power and pride - Before Henry VII became king, England experienced years of chaos and even under Mary I, England experienced turmoil.

  When Liz came to the throne, She established a long reign of peace and order.

  People were now far happier, they felt safe and proud to be English.
• The Golden age (Yes)

  Growth is popularity for Art and Architecture - Liz was fond of portraits which included symbolisms: Liz would hold a globe to represent her power and control. The most powerful ruler.

  People where excited by new things - makes them feel safe as ruler of the world.
• Golden age (No)


  Low life expectancy rates - At this time, illnesses where often lethal due to the lack of medical science advancements.

  People were dying and Liz didn't know how to deal with this.
• Gentry 


  Do not work - live off rents.

  £10-200 a year.

  Own land in the countryside - ££

  Other jobs - JP's, Parliament, knight.
• Nobility 


  Have the right to wear a sword.

  Dukes, Earls, Barons.

  Most respected men in society.

  Own land.

  Born into it, earn 6,000 a year.
• Wealthy Elizabethan's house 


  E shape house in honour of the Queen.

  Chimneys: lots of rooms to heat.

  leaded glass = expensive.

  Large estate.
• Fashion in the Elizabethan Era

  Pale face: shows they did not work.

  Ruffs: a piece of clothing around the neck.

  Blackened teeth: ate lots of sugar = rich.

  Shoes made out of leather = rich.

  Bum roll: wide hips / space / no hurry = rich.
• William Shakespeare 


  He wrote 37 plays under Liz's reign.

  The Globe theatre.
• Theatre 


  For rich and poor. 20,000 visits a week.

  Rich: sat higher up - Great Chain of Being. The lord room: behind stage, to show off.

  Poor: 1p to stand in the yard. 6-700 standing.
• Theatre Before Liz 


  No theatres.

  Plays in inns.

  Government did not like it - beggars.
• Theatre during Liz 


  Law to give actors licenses.

  1576 - first theatre built.

  End of her reign - 7 theatres, 40 acting troupes.

  Only men actors: had to play women.
• Opposition to Theatre 


  Saw it as sinful - drunk, crime.

  Disease - spread germs.

  Puritans campaigned for them to be closed down: Liz enjoyed it so they didn't.
• Causes of poverty (Over population)

  Population remained fairly stable since the Black death but rose by 43% between 1550 and 1600 during Elizabeth's reign.

  Huge pressure on resources. food prices rose - inflation.

  Shortage of jobs for people.
• Causes of poverty (Poor harvests)

  Disastrous harvests = dearth conditions = shortness of food.

  Threat of famine puts prices up higher.

  Rank renting - greedy landlords take money from poor.

  Sheep farming over human farming - people unemployed and homeless.
• Causes of Poverty (Monasteries)

  Monasteries provide shelter for poor, orphans, sick.

  Henry VII dissolved them - what happens to these people now?

  Poor people went to towns and cites to beg or look for jobs.

  Poverty everywhere: Government have to do something.
• Poor groups 


  Anglers: Carry a long stick - steal clothes from washing lines. Sell = ££.

  Ruffler: looked like an army officer, robbed people at gunpoint.

  Abraham man: pretended to be mad, walked around half-naked and made wailing noises - sympathy.
• Local measures to solve poverty

  London: established several hospitals. St Bartholemews for the sick, St Thomas for the old.

  York: there was an increase in beggars, expected to work - sent to House of correction or back home.

  Ipswich: open hospitals for old and sick.
• The Poor Laws


  1601 The Act for the Relief of the Poor: Everyone had to pay towards the poor rate.

  People who refused could be fined and imprisoned.

  Begging was forbidden - whipped and then hanged.
• How successful were the Poor Laws

  + Begging did seem to decrease. The Poor Laws remained until the 19th century.

  -- Each area was responsible for its own poor: led to arguments, which poor belonged to who. Inconsistent.
• Religious Settlement (Happy Catholics) 


  Pope is head of the church. Still allowed to practice their religion. Candlesticks and crosses on the table.
• Religious Settlement (Happy Protestants) 


  Protestant is the main religion in England. No longer being burnt like they were under Mary.