James I 1603-1625
Intro & Finance
Learning Outcomes
❏ 1. Understand English society 1600s
❏ 2. Understand the impact of the legacy of Queen Elizabeth I
❏ 3. Assess problems of James I rule regarding Divine Right
❏ 4. Assess the problems of James I regarding finance
1. England 1603
Justices of the Peace
Government directives were enforced by members of the gentry(class of landowners
below nobility).
Known as jps and their positions were unpaid but socially important.
Jps enforced the government's decisions and acted as judges for lesser crimes.
Restored order after riots by issuing fines or physical punishments(whipping).
Some made changes to accommodate the locals.
King of England
Head of the political system.
Determined policy and controlled distributions of offices and gifts.
Royal prerogative- act independently.
Could issue proclamation- royal announcements
Divine right of kings- theory that kings were appointed by god.
The Royal Court
Centre of power
Hub of the political system
Not a physical place(key people)
Revolved around the king and the great officers of state who attended him
Divided into the public outer chambers and the privy lodgings- access to this area was
controlled
Try to influence the king
Parliament
Made up of the house of commons and the house of lords
Commons- elected by those that met the requirements
Hol-created via hereditary positions(duke, earl etc) appointed by the king or church
, Important part of gvt
Met irregularly
Timing and length of meeting dependant on kings discretion
The Great Chain of Being belief
Starts at the top with god
Then angels
Then humanity
Birds, fish and animals follow this hierarchical structure
Class System
Shows the social class structure of the time. Each class has had restrictions and
expectations
Social mobility was difficult - hard to be born a peasant but die a knight( it did happen
occasionally)
Women were able to jump socially through marriage as this was viewed as a negotiating
tactic.( few married for love)
2. Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SRpqUk_10fnhgWe-msCXIcfEqYsuqVtL/
edit# ( read the link info and bullet point the relevant info next to the image.)
Trusted Advisor
Robert cecil- senior advisor to queen elizabeth. Some of his enemies believed that
without support of his father his political career would go into decline. Queen Elizabeth
trusted Cecil and appointed him master of the court of wards. This post controlled a
great array of patronage both at court and in the counties. However the most significant
aspect of his elevation was that it signalled unequivocally that the queen recognized his
personal worth and ability. He would go on to advise James I.
Elizabeth’s Reputation
One of her key success that enhanced her reputation was
She ordered the issue of a commemorative medal that stated: "God blew and they were
scattered." According to Philippa Jones, the author of Elizabeth: Virgin Queen : "The
defeat of the Spanish Armada in July 1588 heralded the highest point in Elizabeth's rule,
and was a victory that lent England not only a strong sense of national pride, but also the
sense that God was on the side of a Protestant victory against the Catholic enemy."
Many talked of a ‘golden age’ as England was militarily victorious and was becoming
culturally significant with William Shakespeare publishing great works during her reign.
Religion
Intro & Finance
Learning Outcomes
❏ 1. Understand English society 1600s
❏ 2. Understand the impact of the legacy of Queen Elizabeth I
❏ 3. Assess problems of James I rule regarding Divine Right
❏ 4. Assess the problems of James I regarding finance
1. England 1603
Justices of the Peace
Government directives were enforced by members of the gentry(class of landowners
below nobility).
Known as jps and their positions were unpaid but socially important.
Jps enforced the government's decisions and acted as judges for lesser crimes.
Restored order after riots by issuing fines or physical punishments(whipping).
Some made changes to accommodate the locals.
King of England
Head of the political system.
Determined policy and controlled distributions of offices and gifts.
Royal prerogative- act independently.
Could issue proclamation- royal announcements
Divine right of kings- theory that kings were appointed by god.
The Royal Court
Centre of power
Hub of the political system
Not a physical place(key people)
Revolved around the king and the great officers of state who attended him
Divided into the public outer chambers and the privy lodgings- access to this area was
controlled
Try to influence the king
Parliament
Made up of the house of commons and the house of lords
Commons- elected by those that met the requirements
Hol-created via hereditary positions(duke, earl etc) appointed by the king or church
, Important part of gvt
Met irregularly
Timing and length of meeting dependant on kings discretion
The Great Chain of Being belief
Starts at the top with god
Then angels
Then humanity
Birds, fish and animals follow this hierarchical structure
Class System
Shows the social class structure of the time. Each class has had restrictions and
expectations
Social mobility was difficult - hard to be born a peasant but die a knight( it did happen
occasionally)
Women were able to jump socially through marriage as this was viewed as a negotiating
tactic.( few married for love)
2. Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SRpqUk_10fnhgWe-msCXIcfEqYsuqVtL/
edit# ( read the link info and bullet point the relevant info next to the image.)
Trusted Advisor
Robert cecil- senior advisor to queen elizabeth. Some of his enemies believed that
without support of his father his political career would go into decline. Queen Elizabeth
trusted Cecil and appointed him master of the court of wards. This post controlled a
great array of patronage both at court and in the counties. However the most significant
aspect of his elevation was that it signalled unequivocally that the queen recognized his
personal worth and ability. He would go on to advise James I.
Elizabeth’s Reputation
One of her key success that enhanced her reputation was
She ordered the issue of a commemorative medal that stated: "God blew and they were
scattered." According to Philippa Jones, the author of Elizabeth: Virgin Queen : "The
defeat of the Spanish Armada in July 1588 heralded the highest point in Elizabeth's rule,
and was a victory that lent England not only a strong sense of national pride, but also the
sense that God was on the side of a Protestant victory against the Catholic enemy."
Many talked of a ‘golden age’ as England was militarily victorious and was becoming
culturally significant with William Shakespeare publishing great works during her reign.
Religion
