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AQA GCSE History

AQA option: Elizabethan England, c1568-1603 — AQA GCSE History revision

Free revision notes, key terms, common exam traps and 5 practice questions with answers. About 8 minutes to read.

Court, parliament and government

  • Elizabeth governed through the royal court, Privy Council (dominated by William Cecil, later Robert Cecil) and patronage, balancing rival factions such as Leicester, Walsingham and Essex.
  • Parliament met occasionally to grant taxes and pass laws; conflict arose over marriage, the succession, monopolies and religion. Essex's rebellion in 1601 showed the dangers of losing royal favour.
  • Elizabeth's authority relied on image and propaganda: portraits, progresses and the cult of Gloriana projected power without a standing army.

Religion and threats

  • The Religious Settlement (1559) created a Protestant church with some traditional features to encourage acceptance; Puritans wanted further reform while Catholics resented conformity fines.
  • Threats grew after the Northern Rebellion (1569), the papal excommunication (1570) and plots involving Mary, Queen of Scots (Ridolfi, Throckmorton, Babington), leading to Mary's execution in 1587.
  • War with Spain followed. The Armada of 1588 failed due to English fireships and tactics, poor Spanish planning and stormy weather, boosting Elizabeth's prestige.

Key terms

Privy Council
Elizabeth's group of leading advisors.
Patronage
Granting jobs, land and favour to secure loyalty.
Religious Settlement
1559 compromise establishing the Church of England.
Recusant
A Catholic refusing to attend Protestant church services.
Puritan
A Protestant wanting further reform of the church.
Vagabond
A homeless person travelling in search of work, often punished.

Common exam traps

  • Saying Elizabeth had absolute power — she depended on councillors, parliament for taxes and nobles for local control.
  • Treating the 1559 Settlement as instantly accepted; opposition grew through the reign.
  • Explaining the Armada's defeat only by weather, ignoring English tactics and Spanish planning failures.

Practice questions with answers

  1. 1. Who was Elizabeth's leading advisor for most of her reign?

    • • Robert Devereux
    • • William Cecil
    • • Francis Drake
    • • Thomas Cromwell

    Answer: William Cecil

    Cecil, Lord Burghley, dominated the Privy Council.

  2. 2. What was the purpose of the 1559 Religious Settlement?

    Answer: To create a Protestant church acceptable to most people and reduce religious conflict

    Compromise aimed at stability.

  3. 3. The Pope excommunicated Elizabeth in:

    • • 1559
    • • 1569
    • • 1570
    • • 1588

    Answer: 1570

    This freed Catholics from obedience and increased plots.

  4. 4. Why was Mary, Queen of Scots a threat?

    Answer: She had a claim to the throne and became the focus of Catholic plots

    Her existence made rebellion plausible.

  5. 5. Mary was executed in:

    • • 1569
    • • 1580
    • • 1587
    • • 1601

    Answer: 1587

    Following the Babington Plot evidence.

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