1. Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588

2. Key Topics Queen, Government and Religion
2. Challenges to Elizabeth: at home and abroad
3. Elizabeth Society in the Age of Exploration

3. MLO: How was Elizabethan Society organised?
GOOD
GREAT
FAB

4. Elizabethan Society Landless/ Labouring Poor
Yeoman
Tenant farmers
Landless/
Labouring Poor
Vagrants/Homeless
Nobility
Merchants
Business owners
Skilled craftsmen's and apprentices
Unskilled works and the unemployed
Gentry
Professionals
Eg. lawyers, doctors, clergy

5. Key Terms
Nobility and Gentry – Held huge amounts of wealth and land, strived to be in monarchs favour Yeomen – Rich peasants who often held a small amount of land – strived to be in the gentry Tenant Farmers – Rented land, often of the gentry or Yeomen

6. Bullet Point: What are the positives and negatives of this system?
Yeoman
Tenant farmers
Landless/
Labouring Poor
Vagrants/Homeless
Nobility
Around 90% of the population lived in the countryside under this social structure
Gentry
Bullet Point: What are the positives and negatives of this system?
Challenge – Try see it from different perspectives. Who will benefit from this system?

7. Elizabethan Government
What
Key Features
Role
Court (Courtiers)
Nobility who lived and worked next to the Monarch
Had to obtain the Monarchs permission to attend court
Closest advisors to the Monarch
Demonstrate wealth and authority
Had influence, rather than actual power
Privy Council
Leading Courtiers made up this smaller council. Approx. 19 members, including the most senior advisors such as Sir William Cecil
Met three times a week and meetings were attended by the Monarch
Debate current issues and advise
Monitored JP’s and Parliament
Oversaw the laws of the land and monarchs decisions
Parliament
Made up of the House of Lords (incl. Bishops) and the House of Commons. Elected by only the richest. Could only be called and dismissed by the Monarch – met 10 times during Elizabeth's reign
To raise tax
Pass laws
Advice to the monarch
Lords Lieutenant
Each country had a Lord Lieutenant chosen by the Monarch. Often members of the Privy Council.
Ensured law and order was kept in countries
In charge of raising militia and overseeing county defences
Justices of the Peace (JPs)
JP’s were large landowners who kept law and order.
Unpaid and reported to the Privy Council. Popular job due to its status and power
Ensure policies are carried out
Enforce law – heard court cases every 3 months for most serious crimes.

8. Examine the table on Elizabethan Government
Highlight the strengths and weakness of each role
Rate the organisations 1-5 – who had the most power and influence over the monarch. Justify your top rating (1) and weakest (5) rating
Challenge – Imagine you are writing an advertisement in the local newspapers job section – try and within 50 words explain the roles of the job and why someone should apply

9. The Monarchs Power and Roles
Declare war and make peace
Royal Perogative – some issues could only be ruled on by the Monarch such as marriage, the succession and foreign policy
Appoint advisors, grant titles and lands– this was known as Patronage (a very effective way of maintaining loyalty, if she could give, she could also take away
Call or dismiss parliament and reject any laws they voted upon
God - Believed they had a right to rule ‘by the grace of God’. This became known as the Divine Right
War
Rule
Appoint
Parliament
WRAP GOD

10. Return to your previous table
Examine Elizabeth’s Powers compared to the Powers of the other institution Can you explain how Elizabeth holds power over each of the other groups? Courtiers Monarchs
Only allowed to attend court through the Monarchs Patronage

11. MLO: What was problems for Elizabeth’s after her accession?
GOOD
GREAT
FAB

12. What makes a successful and powerful Monarch?
Challenge: What is the most important attribute to possess as a leader?

13. What issues will Elizabeth face after becoming Queen?
Elizabeth was the daughter of Anne Boleyn – who had been executed for treason.
Elizabeth was a firm protestant - the country had been returned to Catholicism under Mary I
Elizabeth was also a women – only the 2nd to rule England and Mary I’s rule had hardly been successful.
She was also single, and determined not to marry.
What issues will Elizabeth face after becoming Queen?

14. Issues
Why would this cause problems for Elizabeth
What could Elizabeth do to resolve these issues?
What did Elizabeth do in reality?
Gender/Marriage
Leave this section for now
Legitimacy
Attack
Money G L A M
Using the information – fill in information about the issues for Elizabeth.
Come up with your own ideas about what Elizabeth could do to resolve these issues
Challenge – What issue poses the greatest problem for Elizabeth?

15. How well did Elizabeth solves these issues?
Examine the last section of each problem. Note down how Elizabeth solves each issue Rate her solutions 1-4 in terms of how successful she was
Challenge – Justify which issue Elizabeth dealt with the most successfully

16. Gender
Legitimacy
Attributes
Money
War
Can you link the different factors together? Try and establish 1 link for each issue.
Challenge – Improve the issue you stated was the biggest problem by explaining and adding links

17. Challenge – Write an ALTERNATIVE interpretation supporting Elizabeth
Homework
Imagine you are plotting to overthrow the Queen. In order to do this – you must create PROPANGDA about her weaknesses. This could be in the form of a speech (Minimum 1 Page) a Poster, or a letter to a member of the Privy Council requesting support for your act of treason. You must mention her key weaknesses and dismiss her strengths
Challenge – Write an ALTERNATIVE interpretation supporting Elizabeth

18. The threat of invasion was Elizabeth’s main problem when she became queen in 1558.’
How far do you agree? Explain your answer. (16)
You may use the following in your answer:
• France
• Elizabeth’s legitimacy
You must also use information of your own.