These three summary sheets cover the entirety of the AQA GCSE History topic ‘Elizabethan England’. Including key dates and key words, these posters have everything you need to ace your exams!
Please note: These summary sheets do not include the Historic Environment section of the course. For...
ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND: COURT AND PARLIAMENT
KEY DATES HERITAGE
1st Act of Succession (1533) Henry VII began the Tudor line through the Battle of Bosworth where he murdered Richard III. Elizabeth’s parents
2nd Act of Succession (1536) were Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Her mother’s execution made her realise she did not want to marry or have
3rd Act of Succession (1544) children. Elizabeth was sexually abused by Thomas Seymour. Elizabeth’s siblings were Edward VI (protestant) and
Elizabeth is in power (1558) Mary I (catholic). The three acts of succession (1533, 1536, 1544) declared Elizabeth as legitimate, illegitimate and
Essex Rebellion (1601) legitimate respectively. Elizabeth came into power in 1558 and died in 1603.
Elizabeth dies (1603)
THE PRIVY COUNCIL
KEY WORDS The main permanent institution of government was the Privy Council. They co-ordinated finance, law courts and
Reformation – The church in Western regional bodies. Elizabeth tried to use ‘divide and rule’, but this had its weaknesses. Key ministers include:
Europe splits - William Cecil (Loyal, trusted, part of the council for over 40 years)
Patronage – Land, titles or power were - Robert Dudley (Romance rumours, died in 1558)
given to people in order to maintain - Francis Walsingham (Fiercely loyal, responsible for foreign affairs, died in 1590)
their loyalty - Christopher Hatton (Impressed Elizabeth with dancing, helped organise progresses)
The Privy Chamber – The monarch’s
personal apartments
Cult of Personality – A way to idolise COURT LIFE
one person through unquestioning The Royal Court consisted of the Queen’s household, who lived with her and competed for power. The Royal Court
flattery and praise moved wherever the Queen was – it was a social hub that displayed every level of society. Performances in the court
Anglican – Protestant acted as subtle propaganda, glorifying Elizabeth. Progresses allowed her to save money and make relations with her
Puritan – Extreme protestant people. And the patronage system allowed Elizabeth to maintain the loyalty of the nobility and others.
MARRIAGE AND FEMALE RULE
There was great prejudice towards female rulers at the time of Elizabeth’s reign. Monarchs were thought to have traditionally male characteristics. Elizabeth
seized this opportunity and used her gender as a political weapon, allowing her to create a powerful cult of personality. She controlled parliament with her charm,
force and royal veto. When it came to marriage, Elizabeth was very disinterested as it meant she would have to give up some of her power. There were four
potential contenders: Prince Eric of Sweden (protestant), Philip II of Spain (catholic), Robert Dudley (protestant) and Duke of Anjou (catholic).
THE ESSEX REBELLION
Towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign there was increased poverty; the patronage system was breaking, and Elizabeth’s most trusted councillors have died. The Earl
of Essex (Robert Devereux) has been in Elizabeth’s court since 1584. His arrogance, ambition, rivalry with Cecil, banishment from parliament, peace-making in
Ireland and loss of wine monopoly were all reasons for his failed rebellion in 1601. This highlighted the loyalty and strength of the Privy Council, yet also highlighted
the failure of ‘divide and rule’ and Elizabeth’s decaying strength.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller singingroby. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.05. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
