The National government of England in the Elizabethan Age comprised three bodies: the monarchy, the Privy Council, and Parliament. There were also regional and county governments. Although Elizabeth was not above the law, the Queen remained the most powerful person in England. Disobeying Elizabeth was against the law; requests ordered by the Queen had to be obeyed. Elizabeth prevailed over major decisions in religion, the dates Parliament met and what they talked about, warfare, education, foodways, and clothing styles. The two institutions that Elizabeth governed with were her Privy Council and Parliment. Elizabeth's Privy Council consisted of twelve active memembers. These members, however, rarely showed up at a meeting together. William Cecil held the chief position in this group, with Robert Dudley and Sir Francis Walsingham below him. Elizabeth trusted Cecil in the head position of Secretary of State because he was wise, cautious, and a good administrator. Later, Walsingham became Secretary of State. Other important members of Elizabeth’s Privy Council were Christopher Hatton and Francis Bacon. The Council decided policy issues for the English government, but still remained completely dependent on Elizabeth. The main concerns of the Privy Council were religion, military matters, diplomacy, the security of the Queen, economics, and the welfare of the English people. The Council also issued proclamations of the Queen. In the Elizabethan Age, Parliament consisted of two houses: the House of Lords (the Upper House) and the House of Commons (the Lower House). Only bishops and aristocrats could be in the Upper House, and commoners elected the members of Parliament for the Lower House. The members of the L... ... middle of paper ... ...losophical Society, 9 Mar. 2007 . Thomas, Heather. “Power and Government.” The Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth I. 9 April 2007. . ---. “Monarch.” The Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth I. 9 Apr. 2007. . ---. “Privy Council.“ The Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth I. 9 Apr. 2007. . ---. “Parliament.” Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth I. 9 Apr. 2007. . Weir, Alison. The Life of Elizabeth I. New York: Ballantine Books, 1998. http://faculty.tnstate.edu/smcurtis/Elizabethan%20Government.htm Haigh, Christopher. Elizabeth I. London: Longman, 1988. Original Letters, Illustrative of English History, edited by Sir Henry Ellis – Series 1, Volume I
“The key factor in limiting royal power in the years 1399-1509 was the king’s relationship with parliament.”
Through Elizabeth’s 45 year’s of British rule, she battled challenging obstacles such as religious conflict, Mary Tudor’s rule, peoples’ will to overthrow her, and Mary Queen of Scots intrusion. She faced these trials and managed to be given the title of England’s greatest monarch. This influential woman ruler left inspiration and knowledge for future monarchs and the British government for many years to come. She had also provided her country with stability and a sense of identity (Rowse 245).
Queen Elizabeth made impressive improvements in the field of literature, art, land expansion, and military conquests. Elizabeth ‘married her job’ and became one of the greatest English monarchs ever in history.
Described by Briscoe (2000), Elizabeth I is considered to be one of the country’s most successful and popular monarchs. Unlike the reign of her sister Mary, which was by and large disastrous, Elizabeth made herself a powerful image of female authority ‘through the embellishment and through concrete policies that she urged her nation to follow’ (Jagger (1995)). Her policies could be attributed to the rigorous education she received as a child, which included history, languages, moral philosophy, theology and rhetoric. Her tutor Roger Ascham believed her mind to have no ‘womanly weaknesses, and her perseverance and memory to be equal to that of a man’ (Jagger (1995)). As an adult however, although very intelligent, ruthless and calculating at times, she was also renowned for her indecisive nature. This was due to the fact that ‘she sought peace above all other objects’ (Johnson (1974) p2): a trait, which many historians believe to have come from her father.
May, Robert. “Lesson 6: The Early Modern Period.” English 110S Course Notes. Queen’s University. Kingston. Summer 2010. Course Manual.
In 1837 queen Victoria started her reign as queen of England. She affected the whole world with the political decisions that she made while queen. But these decisions were dictated by things that started the day she was born and even during her reign as queen. Many people don’t really know much about Queen Victoria so they can ask why is your political leader worth studying? What has changed because of her being queen? What lead her and motivated her to make the choices she made? All of these things can be determined by looking at her past life and life during her reign that affected the way she ruled. There are two parts that will be discussed in her life that have affected her as a political leader. The first part has to deal with her childhood and the aspects of the stage in her life. The second part focuses on her life later on from the later years of her marriage to after her husband dies. Many things heavily dictate these two eras in her reign from her life.
Another source of opposition to Charles’ personal rule was that of the parliament and Charles’ financial expenditure. Charles’ personal rule lasted 11 long years in which he didn’t call parliament for any money or subsidies. To finance his problems, he used his position of power as king to call upon favours and rules that enabled him to gain money without calling parliament. One of these was selling titles. Distraint of Knighthood. This was where men who owned estates worth £40 per annum were in theory supposed to present them to be knighted at a new King’s coronation. Charles thus fined people for not doing so even though the practice had...
The court system was used by Queen Elizabeth to display her power. There were three
Sayle, Charles Edward and Stanhope, Philip Dormer. Letters written by Lord Chesterfield to his son by Earl of Chesterfield. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA, 2013. Print.
The Elizabethan Era is often referred to as the Golden Age of England (A Changing View...). The Elizabethan Era, named after Queen Elizabeth I, was a time of change and discovery (Elizabethan Superstitions). Elizabeth ruled in a time of religious turmoil; both the Catholics and Protestants fought to be the official religion of England. (Elizabethan World View). Many people throughout England struggled to find the “correct” religion (Elizabethan World View). Religion was changing and so did science. During the late 1500’s science began to evolve; new ideas, concepts, and beliefs were starting to emerge (A Changing View). Magic was considered to be very similar to science in this era. The belief in magical creatures served as the roots for many superstitions.
Queen Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533, in Greenwich, England. Elizabeth reigned queen of England and Ireland from November 17, 1558 until her death. Elizabeth never married, and died a virgin, sometimes called “The Virgin Queen” (Gale 2). Elizabeth was born to King Henry Tudor VIII and Anne Boleyn; she was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. This paper will prove Queen Elizabeth I was a woman wholly devoted to her country and brought it much prosperity and growth; these qualities made her the most respected leader of the entire history of England.
The leadership of Queen Elizabeth I was a multi-faceted reign, she not only ruled a country but also navigated through a time where religious tensions were high. It was not just about England, but there were other countries involved. Elizabeth needed to have a variety of leadership styles to deal the different events that were taking place. It was through her education and wisdom of watching her father’s reign that she has been revered as “one of the greatest monarchs ever to rule England”. (A Great Monarch, 2010, p. 147). It was through her strengths and her weaknesses that she succeeded and was feared as a great political figure. “Elizabeth’s blend of shrewdness, courage, and majestic self-display inspired ardent expressions of loyalty and unify the nation against foreign enemies”. (Britannica, 2013). It was apparent that “She was very vain and could be extremely temperamental. She had a furious temper, and many of her courtiers lived in fear of her rebukes”. (Collinson, Margaret, & Collinson, 2004p.431). It was also known, “She could also be very indecisive, a trait that frustrated her close advisers”. (Collinson, Margaret, & Collinson,
The Elizabethan age was a very important time in the history of England. The time period is named after the queen who ruled England during this time, Queen Elizabeth I (Haigh). This time was a great time for the advancement of England, as they were ushered out of the Middle Ages, and into this new era. While there were many hardships, and plague was a common occurrence, the people lived a much more comfortable life than they ever had before (Jonson). Many great accomplishments were also achieved, including Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation around the world, which was only the second time it had ever been done, and the victory of the British navy over the Spanish Armada (Haigh). Another one of the things that affected the Elizabethan age so greatly was the theater.
During the Victorian Era, a monarchy ruled the English Government (“Late Victorian Politics” 1). This type of governing body had been in place for centuries, and the popularity was less accepted by the people of the land (“Victorian Government” 1). Although Queen Victoria was considered a fair and just monarch, daily decisions were made by the Prime Minister and other appointed and elected officials. However, she did meet with them and make suggestions (“Victorian Government” 1). The government also consisted of the Parliament which was a bicameral legislature (“Late Victorian Politics” 1). This legislature contained the House of Lords and the House of Commons (“Late Victorian Politics” 1). Members of the House of Commons were elected by public vote while members of the House o...
Queen Elizabeth I was a legend in her lifetime. In terms of her personality, she was resourceful, determined, and exceedingly intelligent. The most important questions that we want to know about Elizabeth I and her rule are; Why has this monarch, known in her time as the Virgin Queen and Good Queen Bess, caught the public’s attention so persistently? Was her reign really a golden age?