1.2.3

Parliament After the Reformation

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Parliament Under Mary I and Elizabeth I

Although still closely managed by the Crown, and called or dismissed at the monarch’s pleasure, the development of the role and importance of Parliament was reinforced under Mary I and Elizabeth I.

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The importance of Parliament under Mary I

  • Although Mary I scrapped all Reformation legislation, including the Royal Supremacy, she used parliament.
  • Mary I could not force the return of Church lands as parliament was made up of landowners who had benefitted and would not agree to this measure.
  • Mary’s plan to confiscate the property of English Protestants who had fled abroad was not passed.
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The importance of Parliament under Elizabeth I

  • Elizabeth I used parliament to return England to Protestantism, although had to make concessions on the Royal Supremacy and use other tactics, for it to pass – although her problem was mainly with the Lords, specifically the Marian bishops.
  • Elizabeth did, however, use the royal prerogative to stop them discussing issues such as the succession, her marriage and Mary, Queen of Scots.
  • She also reminded the Commons of her status as their monarch (e.g. 1566-7).

Jump to other topics

1Monarch & Government

2Religious Changes

3State Control & Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.2Court Politics

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

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