The Situation on Elizabeth's Accession

The Situation on Elizabeth's Accession

1. Elizabeth's Strengths And Weaknesses As Monarch

   • Weaknesses
     • So many problems
     • Hadn't married

2. Problems Elizabeth Faced in 1558

   • Doubts About A Female Ruler
     • Women were seen as weak
       • Too Weak to Declare War
       • Too Weak to lead armies into battle
     • People believed women shouldnt rule
     • Unnatural
     • A Liabilty
     • Authority of a man
     • Shouldn't be allowed to rule their own country
     • Less Intellectual than men
   • Threats From Abroad
     • Threats From Spain
       • Most Powerful and Wealthy Country In Europe at the time
       • Empire was made up of territories in Europe, Central and South America
       • Devoutly Catholic Country Committed to preventing the spread of Protestantism.
     • Threats From Scotland
       • Mary Queen Of Scots was living in France because she was married to heir of France throne.
       • French Soldiers stationed in Scotland so England was in danger of a joint attack
       • Both Catholic Countries - Scotland and France
     • Threats From France
       • MQS married to the eldest son of the French King
       • England Allied with Spain because Mary 1 was married to King of Spain
       • France was a Catholic country
       • Many thought Mary should be Queen of England.
   • Religion
     • Mistakes made by her Dad, sister and Brother
       • Henry VIII bad decisions
         • Made himself head of the English church
         • Executed his friend Sir Thomas Moore
       • Edward VI bad decisions
         • The church of England became strongly Protestant
         • Outbreaks of violence
       • Mary bad decisions
         • Married King Phillip of Spain
         • Restored Catholic religion
         • Led To Rebellion
         • Many Protestants couldn't accept Catholic church
     • Affected Relationships with other countries.
       • France, Spain and Scotland were all Catholic countries in 1558
       • Foreign prince candinates would all be Catholic
       • Pope, Head of Catholic church would excommunicate her. he could also overthrow her
     • Why religious compromise was so difficult
       • Elizabeth couldn't restore authority and teachings of the Pope
       • She was a Protestant
       • Most people in England are Catholic
       • Religious changes in the past have caused rebellions
       • Most powerful countries in Europe are Catholic
       • Elizabeth wanted the country to be united and didn't want to punish peple for their religious beliefs
       • She needed a national church which most of her people could accept
   • Marriage And Succession
     • Needed An Heir
     • Expected To Marry Quickly
     • Declined Robert Dudley
       • He was already married
       • Wife was found dead in suspicious circumstances
       • Elizabeth found it impossible to marry him.
     • Declined Archduke Charles
       • Catholic
       • His proposal was opposed by Protestants on the Privy Council In Parliament.
     • Declined Francis, Duke Of Anjou
       • Catholic
         • Council and the country were divided about whether she should marry a Catholic and French Prince
       • French Prince
       • Last Chance Of Motherhood
   • Financial Weaknesses
     • Debt Of £300,000
       • Left From Her Father, Henry VIII, Her Sister, Mary 1 and Her Brother, Edward 1
     • Exchequer - looked after crowns money
     • Custom Duties
     • Feudal Duels
   • Choosing Her Councillors
     • People That Were Trustworthy.
     • Confident
     • Experienced
     • Responsible
     • Hard - Working
   • Peace and Prosperity
     • Previous reigns had shown that, if there was a rebellion, people were more likely to join if they were hungry.
     • Problems arose when harvests failed for consecutive years
       • Resulting in 200,00 deaths either from starvation, illness or presumably both.
     • Prices had been rising since the 16th century. many people were losing value in their wages.
     • They wanted their countries to be prosperous because this meant their people would be more content and less reliable

3. Key Roles In Government

   • Queen
   • Nobles And Lords
   • The Gentry
   • Wealthy Merchants
   • Yeomen
   • Craftspeople, Labourers, servants, the poor
     • Worked in trades such as textiles and leather
     • Countryside - employed as Agriculture workers

4. Why Religion Was So Important

   • Mary burnt over 300 protestanats
   • Ordinary people had to give 10% of their wealth to the Catholic church in tithe
   • In King Henry VIII reign, over 70,000 people were executed
   • Catholic services were held in Latin
     • People found it hard to be close to God if they couldn't hear what was being said in church.