elizabeth unit one

• Elizabeth


  Henry VIII's second child, born to his second wife Anne Boleyn
• Elizabeth's older sister Mary was born to Henry VIII's first wife Catherine of Aragon
• Mary inherited Catherine's Catholic beliefs
• After Henry divorced Catherine, he married Anne Boleyn who was Protestant, so Elizabeth inherited Protestant beliefs
• When Henry VIII died, his son Edward became king and continued England's Protestant religion
• When Edward died, Mary became queen and made England Catholic again
• When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth became queen
• Elizabethan society


  • Hierarchical - everyone had a clear place and was expected to be obedient to those 'above' them
  • The Queen was the most important person, followed by the nobility who were the richest people and owned land
  • Tenant farmers rented land from the nobility and employed landless poor workers
  • Around 10% of the population lived in towns, where merchants were at the top, followed by professionals, business owners, craftsmen, and unskilled workers at the bottom
• Parts of Elizabethan government

  • The Court - people who lived near the Queen and advised her
  • The Privy Council - Elizabeth's leading advisers who met with her regularly
  • Parliament - made up of the House of Lords and House of Commons, less important than today
  • Lord Lieutenants - chosen from the nobility, responsible for law and order in their counties
  • Justices of the Peace - made sure Elizabeth's policies were carried out locally
• Succession


  Women were viewed as inferior to men, so Elizabeth was expected to marry quickly so a man could help run the country. Catholics saw her as illegitimate as Henry VIII had divorced his first wife.
• Economy and debt


  England's economy was weak in 1558 due to tenant farmers moving from crops to sheep farming, leading to unemployment and vagrancy. England was £300,000 in debt, more than its annual income of £280,000.
• France had traditionally been England's enemy, and Mary Queen of Scots was married to the heir to the French throne, so invasion was a real possibility
• Spain was a strongly Catholic country, and Elizabeth's rejection of Philip II's marriage proposal risked making them enemies
• Marriage


  It was expected that Elizabeth would marry, but this would reduce her power as her husband would be expected to run the country
• Inexperience


  Elizabeth had to rely on her advisers at first, especially her Secretary of State Sir William Cecil
• Religion


  Elizabeth had to decide whether to keep England Catholic or bring back Protestantism, as the nobility were mostly Catholic but many Protestants and Puritans wanted England to be Protestant
• Elizabeth's religious settlement of 1559

  1. Act of Supremacy - England became officially Protestant again, clergy had to swear allegiance to Elizabeth

  2. Act of Uniformity - new English Prayer book used in all churches, clergy had to use it, services in English

  3. Some Catholic ornaments still allowed, attendance at church services mandatory with fines for non-attendance
• Puritan Challenge 1 - The Crucifix Controversy


  Puritans wanted all images removed from churches, but Elizabeth wanted to keep some Catholic practices to avoid upsetting too many people. She had to back down on insisting every church have a crucifix.
• Puritan Challenge 2 - The vestment controversy

  Puritans opposed priests wearing special vestments, but Elizabeth insisted on this and sacked clergy who refused to comply.
• Catholic Challenge in England - The Northern Earls


  Northern nobility who were Catholic rebelled in 1569 with the aim of overthrowing Elizabeth and replacing her with Mary Queen of Scots. The rebellion was defeated but showed the danger Mary posed as a focus for opposition.
• Foreign challenge 1 - France


  France, a Catholic country, opposed Elizabeth's religious settlement as it feared it would encourage French Protestants. However, France was preoccupied with its own religious civil war so did not pose a major threat.
• Foreign challenge 2 - The Papacy


  The Pope was outraged at England becoming Protestant, but did not excommunicate Elizabeth immediately. Eventually a new Pope did excommunicate her in 1570.
• Foreign challenge 3 - Spain

  Spain, the most Catholic country, was a threat after 1567 when it sent an army to the Netherlands to deal with Protestant rebels there. However, Spain saw France as a bigger threat and was reluctant to overthrow Elizabeth as that could strengthen France's position.