Elizabeth

• Elizabeth ascended the throne after the death of her half-sister Mary I


  1558
• Legitimacy


  Some questioned Elizabeth's right to the throne due to the controversial nature of her parents' marriage and Anne Boleyn's execution
• Gender


  As a female monarch, Elizabeth faced skepticism about her ability to rule effectively in a male-dominated society
• Elizabeth inherited a substantial national debt from Mary I's reign, exacerbated by war and inefficient taxation
• Economic Strategies


  1. Elizabeth implemented cost-saving measures

  2. Reformed the taxation system

  3. Encouraged privateers to bolster the economy
• Elizabeth inherited a kingdom divided between Catholics and Protestants
• Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity (1559)


  1. Elizabeth re-established the Church of England's independence from Rome, making herself the Supreme Governor

  2. Introduced the Book of Common Prayer to standardize worship
• Monarchy


  • Elizabeth held ultimate authority but relied on her ministers and advisors
• Privy Council


  • A group of senior advisors who assisted in the administration and provided counsel
• Parliament


  • Although summoned only when needed for taxation or significant legislation, Parliament played a role in governance
• Local Government


  • Justices of the Peace and local officials implemented royal policies at the local level
• William Cecil (Lord Burghley)


  Elizabeth's trusted advisor, instrumental in managing government affairs and diplomacy
• Francis Walsingham


  Elizabeth's spymaster, crucial in uncovering Catholic plots and protecting the queen
• Patronage System


  Elizabeth used patronage to maintain loyalty among the nobility and gentry, rewarding them with titles and positions
• Court Life


  The court was the center of political life and social influence, where nobles competed for the queen's favor
• Social Hierarchy


  • Nobility and Gentry
  • Yeomen and Farmers
  • Lower Classes
• Urban vs. Rural


  Towns were centers of trade and commerce, while rural areas were primarily agricultural
• Community Life


  Village life was closely-knit, with communal activities and festivals
• Education


  Limited to the upper classes, with grammar schools for boys and private tutors for nobility. Education emphasized classical studies, rhetoric, and religion
• Leisure


  Popular pastimes included theater, sports, and public executions, which served as both entertainment and deterrence
• Act of Supremacy (1559)


  Re-established the monarch as the head of the Church of England
• Act of Uniformity (1559)

  Mandated the use of the Book of Common Prayer in all churches, aiming for religious uniformity
• Mary, Queen of Scots


  A Catholic claimant to the English throne, seen as a focal point for Catholic opposition
• Catholic Plots


  • Northern Rebellion (1569)
  • Ridolfi Plot (1571)
  • Throckmorton Plot (1583)
  • Babington Plot (1586)
• Puritans


  Radical Protestants who sought further reforms to "purify" the Church of England
• Puritan demands for changes in church practices and governance were a persistent issue
• Imprisonment


  Mary, Queen of Scots fled to England in 1568 and was imprisoned by Elizabeth due to her potential as a Catholic figurehead
• Mary, Queen of Scots was executed after involvement in the Babington Plot


  1587
• Rivalry


  Rooted in religious differences, competition for overseas colonies, and economic interests
• Spain's failed attempt to invade England, marked a turning point in the Anglo-Spanish War
• Support for Rebels


  England supported Protestant rebels in the Spanish-controlled Netherlands, straining relations with Spain
• Privateering


  Authorized privateers like Sir Francis Drake to attack Spanish ships, boosting England's economy
• Colonial Ventures


  Expeditions led by figures like Sir Walter Raleigh aimed at establishing English colonies in the New World
• Causes of the Spanish Armada

  • Religious Conflict
  • Political Rivalry
  • Personal Enmity
• Events of the Spanish Armada

  1. Spain assembled a large fleet to invade England

  2. English navy, using smaller, more maneuverable ships, successfully defended against the Armada

  3. Severe storms disrupted the Spanish fleet, contributing to their defeat
• Impact of the Spanish Armada

  • Victory boosted English morale and solidified Elizabeth's rule
  • England emerged as a leading naval power
• Agricultural Improvements


  Introduction of new farming techniques and crops
• Industrial Growth


  Expansion of industries like cloth production, which became a major export
• Causes of Poverty and Vagabondage

  • Population growth
  • Economic changes
  • Decline of feudalism
• Responses to Poverty and Vagabondage


  Poor Laws (e.g., 1597 and 1601) aimed at providing relief and controlling vagrancy