Elizabeth I & Society

Problems in the Regions During Elizabeth I's Reign

Two rebellions which exposed regional problems were the Northern Rebellion in 1569 and the Oxfordshire Uprising in 1596.

Causes of the Oxfordshire Uprising

The uprising in Oxfordshire was largely motivated by socioeconomic grievances. These included:
- Enclosure.
- Poor harvests.
- Disease.
- Falling wages.

Course of Oxfordshire Uprising

A planned uprising against enclosures aimed to seize the home of the county’s Lord Lieutenant. They would seize weapons and march on London.
When the day dawned, only the four leaders turned up.

Outcome of Oxfordshire Uprising

There was a strong reaction by the government. The four men were tortured before being executed for treason.
The Oxfordshire Uprising is an indication of the seriousness of the circumstances being faced by so many of the population in the mid-1590s.

Causes of the Northern Rebellion

The Northern Rebellion had political causes. But there were also socioeconomic elements which led ordinary commoners to join the rebellion.
Feudal loyalties led commoners to follow the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland. This means that the relationship between landlord and tenant was a reason to join a rebellion.

Continuity and Change Under Elizabeth I

Over the course of Elizabeth I's reign, English society changed considerably. To deal with this instability, Elizabeth sought to stress the country's stability.

Decline in living standards

Over the course of Elizabeth I's reign, the English population increased from three million to four million.
Those at the bottom of society faced a decline in living standards.
- More people meant there was greater demand for food, causing food prices to rise.
- More people led to increased competition for land, causing rent to increase.
- More people also meant more people could work, causing wages to fall.

Elizabeth's response

In response to this significant change, Elizabeth I sought to stress the stability and harmony of England.
This contributed to her choice of motto, 'semper eadem' (ever the same), and her use of the 'mask of youth' in portraits (a standard facial profile used in every portrait of Elizabeth to give the illusion that she was not ageing).
- The 'mask of youth' is seen in paintings such as the Darnley Portrait, 1575-1576.

Rise in living standards

Under Elizabeth, there were more opportunities for people to make money through trade.
- This created a growing ‘gentry’.
The ‘gentry’ were a group of wealthy landowners beneath the noble classes. They often became MPs or Justices of the Peace (JPs).

Poverty During Elizabeth I's Reign

Overall, poverty got worse from the 1590s onwards. This was because of more failed harvests, and resulting shortages and higher prices. As the government feared rebellion, they intervened to help paupers.

Rise in poverty

Because of the growing pressures on society, poverty grew during Elizabeth I's reign. Key contributing factors included:
- Demographic change.
- Bad harvests between 1594 and 1598.
- A flu outbreak in 1556 killed 200,000 people, including a lot of farmers.

Charities

Charity had traditionally been the main source of support for the poor.
- People began to understand that paupers were not to blame for their own poverty.
- Charities and almshouses to assist the poor became more common.
But during this period, charity donations by the rich became insufficient (not enough) for dealing with the problem.

Government efforts

Governments steps to reduce poverty included:
- The Poor Law in 1572, which let local officials raise money from local people to help the poor.
- The ‘Act for setting the poor on work’ in 1576, which made local authorities responsible for poverty in their local area.
Research was done to see which cities had best dealt with the problem of poverty. The Privy Council used this research to shape national laws.

The Poor Law 1601

In 1601, the Poor Law was the first law taxing the wealthy to pay for the care of the poor who could not work. This included:
- The helpless poor (sick and old).
- The able-bodied poor, who needed to work to get food.
- The idle poor, who were sent to the House of Correction.
The law had an effect in some areas, but was not enforced in other areas. Some historians argue that local authorities tried to force paupers away so they did not have to deal with them.

1Consolidation of the Tudor Dynasty 1485-1547

1.1Henry VII 1485-1509

1.1.1Henry VII's Consolidation of Power

1.1.2Henry VII & Succession

1.1.3Henry VII's Councils & Parliament

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 1

1.1.5Henry VII & Justice, Finance & Policies

1.1.6Henry VII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

1.1.7Henry VII & Society

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 2

1.1.9Henry VII & Regional Issues

1.1.10Henry VII & Economic Development

1.1.11Henry VII & Cultural Development

1.1.12End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 3

1.2Henry VIII 1509-1547

1.2.1Henry VIII's Consolidation of Power

1.2.2Henry VIII & His Government

1.2.3Henry VIII & His Government 2

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Henry VIII Part 1

1.2.5Henry VIII & Succession

1.2.6Henry VIII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

1.2.7Henry VIII & Society

1.2.8End of Topic Test -Henry VIII Part 2

1.2.9Henry VIII & Society 2

1.2.10Henry VIII & Economic Development

1.2.11Henry VIII & Religion

1.2.12End of Topic Test - Henry VIII Part 3

2England: Turmoil & Triumph 1547-1603

2.1Instability & Consolidation 1547-1563

2.1.1Edward VI, Somerset & Northumberland

2.1.2Edward VI & Authority

2.1.3Edward VI & Relations with Foreign Powers

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Edward VI Part 1

2.1.5Edward VI & Rebellions

2.1.6Social Impact of Religious & Economic Changes

2.1.7Edward VI & Cultural Developments

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Edward VI Part 2

2.1.9Mary I & Her Rule

2.1.10Mary I & Relations with Foreign Powers

2.1.11The Social Impact of Religious & Economic Change

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Mary Part 1

2.1.13Elizabeth I & Her Rule

2.1.14Elizabeth I & Relations With Foreign Powers

2.1.15Impact of Economic, Social & Religious Change

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 1

2.2The Triumph of Elizabeth 1563-1603

2.2.1Elizabeth I & Court

2.2.2Elizabeth & Government

2.2.3Elizabeth I & Succession

2.2.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 2

2.2.5Mary Queen of Scots

2.2.6Relations with Spain

2.2.7End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 3

2.2.8Elizabeth I & Society

2.2.9Elizabeth I & Rebellion

2.2.10Elizabeth & Economic Development

2.2.11End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 4

2.2.12Elizabeth I & Religious Developments

2.2.13The English Renaissance

2.2.14Elizabeth's Last Years

2.2.15End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 5

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