Elizabethan England flashcards

Elizabethan England covers the reign of Queen Elizabeth I from 1558 to 1603. Students must understand how Elizabeth established her authority, managed religious settlement, and dealt with threats to her rule, including the challenge posed by Mary Queen of Scots and the Spanish Armada of 1588. The topic also explores Elizabethan society, including the lives of the poor, the problem of vagabondage, and Elizabethan responses to poverty through legislation. Culture flourished during this period, with theatre, exploration, and the work of figures such as Francis Drake shaping England's growing confidence. Students should be able to explain causes, consequences, and significance of key events, and assess how successfully Elizabeth managed the many pressures she faced as a Protestant female monarch in a dangerous political world.

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   What was the Religious Settlement of 1559?

   Elizabeth's compromise that made England Protestant but avoided extreme measures, established through the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, making her Supreme Governor of the Church.

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   Why was Elizabeth's position as queen considered difficult from the start?

   Many questioned a female monarch's right to rule, Catholics considered her illegitimate, and Europe's powerful Catholic nations posed a constant threat to her authority.

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   Who was Mary Queen of Scots and why was she a threat to Elizabeth?

   Mary was Elizabeth's Catholic cousin and a rival claimant to the throne. Her presence in England made her a focus for Catholic plots against Elizabeth's life and rule.

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   What was the Ridolfi Plot of 1571?

   A Catholic conspiracy organised by Roberto Ridolfi, aiming to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary Queen of Scots, backed by Spain and the Pope.

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   Why was Mary Queen of Scots executed in 1587?

   Evidence from the Babington Plot showed Mary had approved plans to assassinate Elizabeth. After years of reluctance, Elizabeth signed Mary's death warrant.

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   What were the main causes of the Spanish Armada in 1588?

   Causes included English support for Dutch Protestant rebels, the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, English piracy against Spanish ships, and deep religious rivalry between the two nations.

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   Why did the Spanish Armada fail?

   The Armada failed due to English fire ships at Gravelines, poor communication with Parma's army, and severe storms that wrecked many Spanish vessels on the journey home.

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   What was the problem of poverty in Elizabethan England?

   Rising population, poor harvests, and unemployment created widespread vagrancy. Society distinguished between the deserving poor (unable to work) and idle poor (unwilling to work).

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   What did the Elizabethan Poor Laws aim to do?

   They placed responsibility for the poor on local parishes, raising money through rates to support the deserving poor and punishing vagabonds who refused to work.

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    What role did the Privy Council play in Elizabethan government?

    The Privy Council was Elizabeth's group of senior advisers who helped govern the country, implement policy, and manage threats. Key members included William Cecil.

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    How did Elizabethan theatre reflect the culture of the period?

    Theatre grew rapidly, with permanent playhouses like the Globe attracting all social classes. Playwrights such as Christopher Marlowe and later Shakespeare shaped English cultural identity.

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    What was the significance of Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe (1577–1580)?

    Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, boosting national pride, challenging Spanish dominance at sea, and bringing wealth through privateering against Spanish ships.

• Many students incorrectly claim the Spanish Armada failed solely because of English naval skill, when in fact severe storms played an equally or more significant role in destroying the fleet.
• Students often confuse the Act of Supremacy with the Act of Uniformity, forgetting that Supremacy dealt with Elizabeth's authority over the Church while Uniformity dealt with how worship was conducted.
• A common error is to say Elizabeth was enthusiastic about executing Mary Queen of Scots, when in reality she delayed the decision for years and was reportedly distressed when the warrant was carried out.

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