Government, Religion, and Economy in the Elizabethan Era

This section provides an overview to the roles of Government, Religion, and Economy in the Elizabethan Era. The Elizabethan era is marked by significant developments in government, religion, the economy, and society, all of which shaped the lives of its people and the course of English history. These key themes were interconnected, with Elizabeth I’s strong governance and religious policies influencing the political and social landscape of England.

Government

Queen Elizabeth I was the sovereign of England, which meant she held the highest authority in the country, and all governmental agents were directly answerable to her. As queen, she exercised absolute power over the kingdom, but she recognised the need for trusted advisors to support her rule. To assist her in governing, Elizabeth surrounded herself with a loyal and experienced group of advisers, known as the Privy Council. These individuals were key to the functioning of government, offering advice on various matters ranging from domestic affairs to foreign policy.

Although Elizabeth was an autocrat, she carefully controlled Parliament, limiting its power and ensuring that it adhered to her wishes. She determined the agenda, deciding what Parliament could discuss and what laws it could pass. However, Parliament did grow in influence during her reign, and there were several moments of conflict between Elizabeth and her lawmakers. Disputes arose over issues such as her marriage, religious policies, and the granting of monopoly licences, which gave exclusive rights to individuals or companies to trade certain goods, leading to economic tensions.

Religion

Religion was one of the most contentious issues in 16th-century England, as the country had undergone a series of dramatic religious changes. For nearly a thousand years, England had been a Catholic country, but under Henry VIII, the English Church split from the Roman Catholic Church. Over the following decades, England’s official religion oscillated between Catholicism and Protestantism, causing significant tension and divisions within society.

When Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1558, she established Protestantism as the official religion of England, but sought to find a middle ground that would reduce religious conflict. She introduced a Religious Settlement, which allowed some Catholic practices, such as the use of certain rituals and ceremonies, to continue, while firmly establishing Protestant beliefs. This “middle way” was enshrined in law through two important acts passed by Parliament: the Act of Supremacy (1559), which declared Elizabeth as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and the Act of Uniformity (1559), which enforced a standard form of worship and religious practice.

Elizabeth’s approach was broadly supported, but it did not eliminate religious tensions entirely. Catholics continued to challenge her authority, and she faced threats from within and outside of England. Catholic plots against her, such as the Babington Plot of 1586, aimed to place her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Additionally, the Puritans, a Protestant faction who wanted a more radical form of religious reform, also opposed Elizabeth's policies, seeing them as insufficiently pure.

Economy and Society

The Elizabethan era is often seen as a time of economic growth and social development, but it was also marked by stark inequalities. The Great Chain of Being, a hierarchical view of the world, was central to the Elizabethan worldview. It held that everything in the universe had its designated place, with God at the top, followed by the monarch, the nobility, and the common people. This order extended to society, where one’s place in the social hierarchy was largely determined by birth, and social mobility was limited. As queen, Elizabeth controlled much of the wealth of the nation, and her policies had a direct impact on the lives of people at all levels of society.

Despite the apparent prosperity of the Elizabethan period, poverty was widespread, and social divisions were clear. Poverty in Elizabethan society was often regarded as the result of individual failure or moral weakness, and there was little to no support for the poor. However, during Elizabeth’s reign, growing poverty and fears of social unrest prompted the introduction of the Poor Laws. These laws were a significant shift in policy, marking the first efforts by the state to offer some support to the poor and unemployed. The laws divided the poor into two categories: the impotent poor (those unable to work due to age, illness, or disability) and the able-bodied poor (those who were capable of work but unable to find employment). The Poor Laws set up a system of local relief, which, although limited, provided some assistance for those in need. The introduction of these laws was an early form of welfare, designed to prevent social unrest and maintain order in the face of increasing poverty.

Cultural and Societal Life

Elizabeth's reign is often referred to as a “Golden Age”, particularly in the realm of culture. One of the most enduring legacies of the era was the development of theatre, which became a popular form of entertainment across all levels of society. The Renaissance, which had started in Italy and spread across Europe, brought a flourishing of arts and literature to England. Under Elizabeth’s patronage, playwrights such as William Shakespeare wrote many of their most famous works, and the construction of purpose-built theatres, such as The Globe, allowed drama to become accessible to a wide audience. Shakespeare’s plays, many of which were performed during Elizabeth’s reign, explored themes of power, politics, love, and society, and his works have remained influential for centuries.

In addition to the theatre, Elizabethan England saw advancements in other artistic fields, such as music and painting. The queen herself was a patron of the arts, and her court became a vibrant centre for artists, musicians, and poets.

Conclusion

The Elizabethan era was a time of significant change and development, characterised by strong and centralised government under Queen Elizabeth I, religious reforms that aimed to create stability in a divided nation, and economic policies that sought to address growing poverty while maintaining social order. Elizabeth’s reign also saw the flourishing of culture and the arts, which contributed to the legacy of the period as a golden age in English history. Despite these successes, the era was not without its challenges, including tensions over religion, the treatment of the poor, and issues of royal authority, all of which shaped the trajectory of English history in the years to come.