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GCSE Edexcel History- early elizabethan england > Society and Government > Flashcards

Flashcards in Society and Government Deck (14)
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1
Q

What was the social hierarchy of Elizabethan England countryside (high to low)?
(6)

A
  • Nobility
  • Gentry
  • Yeomen
  • Tenant farmers
  • Landless or labouring poor
  • Vagrants, homeless
2
Q

How was social hierarchy determined?

A

It was usually determined by how much land you had and whether you owned or rented it.

3
Q

What was the social hierarchy of towns in Elizabethan England?
(5)

A
  • Merchants (usually owned lots of property)
  • Professionals (lawyers, doctors, teachers, clergy etc)
  • Business owners (usually highly skilled craftsmen that employed others. Included silversmiths, carpenters, tailors etc.
  • Skilled craftsmen (people who had learned a skill or trade.Included apprentices)
  • Unskilled workers and the unemployed
4
Q

What were the five key parts of the Government in Elizabethan England?

A
  • Court
  • Privy council
  • Parliament
  • Lords Lieutenant
  • Justices of the Peace
5
Q

What were the key features of the court?

A
  • They were a body of people who lived near the same palace or house of the monarch
  • Mainly consisted of the nobility (monarch’s key servants, advisers and friends)
  • Attending court required the monarch’s permission
6
Q

What was the role of the court?

A
  • To entertain and advise the monarch
  • To publicly display wealth and power
  • Courtiers (usually members of the nobility who spent most their lives with Elizabeth I) had to influence with the Queen rather than actual power
7
Q

What were the key features of the Privy Council?

A
  • Made up of leading courtiers, advisers, nobles and senior government officials
  • Approximately 19 members on the Privy Council selected by the monarch
  • They met at least three times a week and were often attended and presided by the Queen
8
Q

What was the role of the Privy Council? (5)

A
  • To monitor the Justices of Peace
  • To monitor the proceedings of Parliament
  • To oversee law and order, local government and the security of England
  • Make sure the monarch’s final decisions were carried out
  • To debate current issues and advise the monarch on government policy
9
Q

What were the key features of parliament?

A
  • Made up of House of Lords (which includes bishops) and House of Commons
  • Could only be called and dismissed by the monarch
  • Elections were held before each new parliament but few people could vote
  • Elizabeth called parliament ten times during her reign
10
Q

What was the role of parliament?

A
  • To grant extraordinary taxation (additional tax to pay for unexpected expenses like war)
  • Pass laws (Act of Parliament)
  • Offer advice to monarch
11
Q

What were the key features of a Lord Lieutenant?

A
  • Chosen by the Queen
  • Members of the nobility and often the Privy Council
  • Essential in maintaining the monarch’s power and England’s defences
12
Q

What were the roles of a Lord Lieutenant?

A
  • Part of the local government
  • For overseeing the enforcement of policies
  • In charge of raising and training local militia (military force of ordinary people, usually raised in an emergency) and overseeing county defences
13
Q

What were the key features of the Justices of Peace?

who were they, were they paid?

A
  • JoPs were large landowners who kept law and order in their local area.
  • They were unpaid and reported to the Privy Council.
  • It was a position of status so it was a very popular job
14
Q

What were the roles of the Justices of peace?

A
  • To make sure all social and economic policies were carried out
  • Part of the local government
  • To hear county court cases every three months for more serious crimes