All Elizabeth essay plans with complete solution
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Essay overview
INTRODUCTION
- Overall strong / oversimplification - relatively stable as compared to her predecessors
- Ministers e.g. Cecil proved to be valuable assets - maintained stability and peace and
served well
- Displayed some elements of weakness - factional rivalry / can be historically debated
AREAS OF STRENGTH
- William Cecil's appointment
- Elizabeth's own skill
- Dealing with and Controlling Royal Finances
AREAS OF WEAKNESS
- Relationship with Parliament
- Factional Rivalry - but more in 1590s where Essex frozen out of court
CONCLUSION
- Had some weaknesses - factional rivalry + poor relationship with parliament
- Hindered gov ability to sometimes function effectivity - refusal to grant royal assent
- Both Cecil and Elizabeth skill ensured government was effective in fulfilling roles
regardless of obstacles
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Strength: William Cecil's appointment
- The man who does everything - Spanish ambassador
- 1550: secretary of state / 1572: high treasurer / chief advisor = completely trusted by
Elizabeth
- Cecil: important part in preparing Crown's legislative programme 'framing and often
shaping bills'
- Assisted by councils 'floor managers' in commons - Sir Knolly + Hatton / used own
members to manage commons
- John Guy: 'legislative business was properly directed'
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Strength: Elizabeth's own skill
- Reduced size of her Privy council - allow effective working / 10 members VS previous
Mary's 50
- 438 acts passed by her parliament
- Debt only raised by £123,000 since 1558 - just under £3000 debt per year
,- Religion: Act of supremacy + Uniformity 1559 / penal law against Catholics
- Social policy: Acts of 1598 + 1601 - addressed poor relief
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Strength: Dealing with and controlling royal finances
- Early in reign: scheme announced for withdrawal of debased coins - replaced -
soundly minted coins
- Some suffered but did ensure sound coins were in circulation
- Gov. did not resort to debasement during the rest of the century
- Inherited her Lord Treasurer William Paulet - Marquis of Winchester
- Under his leadership Exchequer continued to implement financial reforms started
during Mary
Modernizing exchequer / Revaluating crown lands /Raising customs duties
- By 1585: war broke out - Elizabeth able to pay off Mary's £300,000 and had reserve of
£300,000
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Weakness: Relationship with Parliament
- Rocky relationship - ministers often stepped into royal prerogative - marriage +
succession 1563+66
Banished Leicester and Pembroke from presence chamber
- 1563 + 1566: HoC due to the arguing of members of P.C sought to debate marriage +
succession
- Readily intervened to prevent the passage of bills which disapproved or refused royal
assent
- Did so to over 60 bills / 1585: no fewer than 15 alone this year
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Weakness: Factional Parliament
but more in 1590s where Essex frozen out of court
- Moderate and pragmatic Cecil VS protestant Dudley / argues over marriage
- Cecil feared his decline in political power thus influence in gov / ministers more into
themselves?
- Structure in the earlier stages helped prevent factional rivalry getting out of hand
- No single minister had complete control over patronage - not even cecil
- Various influential families at court + within council balanced one another
Boleyn's: senior ranks of crown service in substantial number / Parr's: strongly = close
connections
- Although Leicester + Cecil disagreed potential marriage they tended to cooperate over
other issues
- Stephen Alford + John Guy: disputes between them tended to be occasional + specific
policy issues
ELIZABETH I'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS SPAIN WAS ALWAYS WEAK AND
UNCONVINCING.
Essay Overview
, INTRODUCTION
- Elements were weak and unconvincing but overall to assume would be an
oversimplification
- Start it was due to lack of strategy
- Later overcome as she achieved her aims e.g. national security and enhancing
English reputation
WAS WEAK AND UNCONVINCING
- Victory was only through weaknesses of her opponents
- No clear foreign policy just harassment
- Deterioration of Anglo-Spanish relations over Netherlands
WAS NOT WEAK + UNCONVINCING
- Defeating armada
- Established national security
CONCLUSION
- Certainly, seen areas of weakness in foreign policy
- e.g. Leicester dependency on climatic condition over strategic planning
- However, did secure a win against a global power and were quick to exploit adverse
activities = prepared
ELIZABETH I'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS SPAIN WAS ALWAYS WEAK AND
UNCONVINCING.
Weak and unconvincing: Victory was only through weaknesses of her opponents
- Leadership by Duke of Medina Sidonia: never been on a ship before / not experienced
naval officer
- English quick to exploit opportunities often by weather - Send fire ships to destroy
some Armada while anchor
- Geography benefitted England who also had superior gunnery and manoeuvrability -
due to John Hawkins
- Harold of Effingham and Francis Drake were both excellent leaders
- Capture of Cadiz: humiliated Philip II - prevented S. merchant vessels from sailing into
West Indies
- Proved a blow to Spanish / provoked Philip into an uncharacteristically cautious
response
ELIZABETH I'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS SPAIN WAS ALWAYS WEAK AND
UNCONVINCING.
Weak and unconvincing: No clear foreign policy just harassment
- Storm had forced 5 Spanish vessels to take refuge in England
- 4000 Florins which was intended to pay army of the Duke of Alba Elizabeth
impounded the money due to previous actions at San Juan de Ulua
- Led alba to seize English ships and property in the Netherlands
- Elizabeth took away all lands of Spanish subjects in England
- 1572: inadvertently contributed significantly to deterioration in Anglo-Spanish relations
- Expelled sea beggars from English ports - forced to land in Dutch port of Brielle = 600
men sacked the port
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Essay overview
INTRODUCTION
- Overall strong / oversimplification - relatively stable as compared to her predecessors
- Ministers e.g. Cecil proved to be valuable assets - maintained stability and peace and
served well
- Displayed some elements of weakness - factional rivalry / can be historically debated
AREAS OF STRENGTH
- William Cecil's appointment
- Elizabeth's own skill
- Dealing with and Controlling Royal Finances
AREAS OF WEAKNESS
- Relationship with Parliament
- Factional Rivalry - but more in 1590s where Essex frozen out of court
CONCLUSION
- Had some weaknesses - factional rivalry + poor relationship with parliament
- Hindered gov ability to sometimes function effectivity - refusal to grant royal assent
- Both Cecil and Elizabeth skill ensured government was effective in fulfilling roles
regardless of obstacles
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Strength: William Cecil's appointment
- The man who does everything - Spanish ambassador
- 1550: secretary of state / 1572: high treasurer / chief advisor = completely trusted by
Elizabeth
- Cecil: important part in preparing Crown's legislative programme 'framing and often
shaping bills'
- Assisted by councils 'floor managers' in commons - Sir Knolly + Hatton / used own
members to manage commons
- John Guy: 'legislative business was properly directed'
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Strength: Elizabeth's own skill
- Reduced size of her Privy council - allow effective working / 10 members VS previous
Mary's 50
- 438 acts passed by her parliament
- Debt only raised by £123,000 since 1558 - just under £3000 debt per year
,- Religion: Act of supremacy + Uniformity 1559 / penal law against Catholics
- Social policy: Acts of 1598 + 1601 - addressed poor relief
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Strength: Dealing with and controlling royal finances
- Early in reign: scheme announced for withdrawal of debased coins - replaced -
soundly minted coins
- Some suffered but did ensure sound coins were in circulation
- Gov. did not resort to debasement during the rest of the century
- Inherited her Lord Treasurer William Paulet - Marquis of Winchester
- Under his leadership Exchequer continued to implement financial reforms started
during Mary
Modernizing exchequer / Revaluating crown lands /Raising customs duties
- By 1585: war broke out - Elizabeth able to pay off Mary's £300,000 and had reserve of
£300,000
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Weakness: Relationship with Parliament
- Rocky relationship - ministers often stepped into royal prerogative - marriage +
succession 1563+66
Banished Leicester and Pembroke from presence chamber
- 1563 + 1566: HoC due to the arguing of members of P.C sought to debate marriage +
succession
- Readily intervened to prevent the passage of bills which disapproved or refused royal
assent
- Did so to over 60 bills / 1585: no fewer than 15 alone this year
'ELIZABETHAN GOVERNMENT HAS MORE WEAKNESSES THAN STRENGTHS IN
THE YEARS 1558 - 1588'
Weakness: Factional Parliament
but more in 1590s where Essex frozen out of court
- Moderate and pragmatic Cecil VS protestant Dudley / argues over marriage
- Cecil feared his decline in political power thus influence in gov / ministers more into
themselves?
- Structure in the earlier stages helped prevent factional rivalry getting out of hand
- No single minister had complete control over patronage - not even cecil
- Various influential families at court + within council balanced one another
Boleyn's: senior ranks of crown service in substantial number / Parr's: strongly = close
connections
- Although Leicester + Cecil disagreed potential marriage they tended to cooperate over
other issues
- Stephen Alford + John Guy: disputes between them tended to be occasional + specific
policy issues
ELIZABETH I'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS SPAIN WAS ALWAYS WEAK AND
UNCONVINCING.
Essay Overview
, INTRODUCTION
- Elements were weak and unconvincing but overall to assume would be an
oversimplification
- Start it was due to lack of strategy
- Later overcome as she achieved her aims e.g. national security and enhancing
English reputation
WAS WEAK AND UNCONVINCING
- Victory was only through weaknesses of her opponents
- No clear foreign policy just harassment
- Deterioration of Anglo-Spanish relations over Netherlands
WAS NOT WEAK + UNCONVINCING
- Defeating armada
- Established national security
CONCLUSION
- Certainly, seen areas of weakness in foreign policy
- e.g. Leicester dependency on climatic condition over strategic planning
- However, did secure a win against a global power and were quick to exploit adverse
activities = prepared
ELIZABETH I'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS SPAIN WAS ALWAYS WEAK AND
UNCONVINCING.
Weak and unconvincing: Victory was only through weaknesses of her opponents
- Leadership by Duke of Medina Sidonia: never been on a ship before / not experienced
naval officer
- English quick to exploit opportunities often by weather - Send fire ships to destroy
some Armada while anchor
- Geography benefitted England who also had superior gunnery and manoeuvrability -
due to John Hawkins
- Harold of Effingham and Francis Drake were both excellent leaders
- Capture of Cadiz: humiliated Philip II - prevented S. merchant vessels from sailing into
West Indies
- Proved a blow to Spanish / provoked Philip into an uncharacteristically cautious
response
ELIZABETH I'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS SPAIN WAS ALWAYS WEAK AND
UNCONVINCING.
Weak and unconvincing: No clear foreign policy just harassment
- Storm had forced 5 Spanish vessels to take refuge in England
- 4000 Florins which was intended to pay army of the Duke of Alba Elizabeth
impounded the money due to previous actions at San Juan de Ulua
- Led alba to seize English ships and property in the Netherlands
- Elizabeth took away all lands of Spanish subjects in England
- 1572: inadvertently contributed significantly to deterioration in Anglo-Spanish relations
- Expelled sea beggars from English ports - forced to land in Dutch port of Brielle = 600
men sacked the port
