Elizabethan England Revision Guide
Elizabethan England (1558-1603) is a major GCSE History topic covering the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It's a period of religious conflict, global exploration, cultural achievement (Shakespeare, theatre), and social change. This guide covers everything you need: Elizabeth's court, religious settlement, threats to her rule, culture, poverty, and exploration.
Elizabeth I and Her Court
Elizabeth became queen at age 25 in 1558. She inherited a country divided by religion (Catholic vs Protestant), bankrupt from wars, and surrounded by hostile European powers. As a woman, many doubted she could rule. She never married, earning the title "the Virgin Queen," and used the question of marriage as a diplomatic tool throughout her reign.
Key Fact: The Privy Council
Elizabeth governed through her Privy Council, a group of trusted advisors. Key figures included William Cecil (Lord Burghley), her chief advisor for 40 years, and Sir Francis Walsingham, her spymaster who uncovered Catholic plots against her.
The Religious Settlement (1559)
England had swung between Protestantism (Henry VIII, Edward VI) and Catholicism (Mary I). Elizabeth created a middle way:
- Act of Supremacy (1559): Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of the Church of England (not Supreme Head, to avoid offending Catholics).
- Act of Uniformity (1559): Every church had to use the Book of Common Prayer. Church attendance was compulsory with a fine for non-attendance.
- The middle way: Churches kept some Catholic features (candles, vestments) but services were in English and the clergy could marry. The aim was to satisfy as many people as possible.
Threats to Elizabeth
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary was Elizabeth's Catholic cousin and had a strong claim to the English throne. She fled to England in 1568 and became a focal point for Catholic plots. After the Babington Plot (1586) proved she had supported plans to assassinate Elizabeth, Mary was executed in 1587. Elizabeth delayed the execution for months, knowing it would anger Catholic Europe.
Catholic Plots
Several plots attempted to replace Elizabeth with Mary: the Revolt of the Northern Earls (1569), the Ridolfi Plot (1571), the Throckmorton Plot (1583), and the Babington Plot (1586). Walsingham's spy network uncovered most of them. After each plot, laws against Catholics became harsher.
The Spanish Armada (1588)
King Philip II of Spain sent a fleet of 130 ships to invade England. Reasons included: Elizabeth's support for Dutch Protestant rebels, English attacks on Spanish treasure ships (Drake), and the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. The English fleet, led by Drake and Lord Howard, used fire ships to scatter the Armada. A storm then destroyed many Spanish ships. The victory secured Elizabeth's reputation and England's Protestant future.
Elizabethan Society and Culture
- Social hierarchy: Society was rigidly stratified: monarch, nobility, gentry, yeomen, tenant farmers, labourers, vagrants. Everyone was expected to know their place.
- Theatre: This was the golden age of English theatre. Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Jonson wrote plays performed at theatres like the Globe. The theatre was popular across all classes. Puritans opposed it, seeing plays as immoral.
- Education: Grammar schools expanded, teaching Latin and religion. Only boys attended. Universities (Oxford, Cambridge) trained clergy and lawyers.
- Leisure: The rich enjoyed hunting, hawking, and tennis. The poor watched bear-baiting, cock-fighting, and attended fairs. Music and dancing were popular at all levels.
Poverty and Vagrancy
Poverty was a growing problem. Causes included: enclosure of common land, population growth, bad harvests, rising prices, and the dissolution of the monasteries (which had provided charity). The Elizabethan government distinguished between the "deserving poor" (elderly, sick, disabled) and the "undeserving poor" (those considered lazy or criminal).
Key Fact: The Poor Laws
The 1601 Poor Law was a landmark. It made each parish responsible for its own poor. The deserving poor received food and shelter. The able-bodied poor were given work in houses of correction. Vagrants could be whipped and sent back to their home parish. It was the first national system of poor relief.
Exploration and Voyages
Elizabethan England saw the beginning of overseas exploration and colonisation:
- Francis Drake: Circumnavigated the globe (1577-1580), raided Spanish treasure ships, and played a key role in defeating the Armada.
- Walter Raleigh: Attempted to establish the colony of Virginia in North America (Roanoke, 1585). It failed but laid the groundwork for future colonisation.
- Trade: The East India Company was founded in 1600, beginning English trade with Asia. Privateering (state-sanctioned piracy) brought wealth to England at Spain's expense.
Exam Tips
- Know the key dates: 1558 (accession), 1559 (religious settlement), 1587 (Mary executed), 1588 (Armada), 1601 (Poor Law).
- Use specific detail. Name people, give dates, describe events precisely.
- For "how far do you agree" questions, give evidence for both sides before reaching a clear judgement.
- Understand the connections between topics. For example, religious conflict links to the plots against Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada.
- The historic environment question requires detailed knowledge of a specific site. Revise this carefully as it changes each year.
Practice Questions
- Explain the significance of the Religious Settlement of 1559.
- How far do you agree that the main reason for the defeat of the Spanish Armada was English naval tactics?
- Describe two features of Elizabethan theatre.
- Explain why poverty was a growing problem in Elizabethan England.
- How far do you agree that Mary, Queen of Scots was the biggest threat to Elizabeth?
Recommended Revision Guides
Essential guides for Elizabethan England:
- CGP GCSE History: Elizabethan England Revision Guide — Clear, concise notes with exam practice.
- Hodder GCSE History: Early Elizabethan England — Detailed coverage with source practice.
- Oxford AQA GCSE History: Elizabethan England Revision Guide — Exam-focused with model answers.