Paper 2 Section B/C: Elizabethan England, c1568–1603

June 2024

Q1: How convincing is Interpretation A about Queen Elizabeth and Parliament?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretation A.

Answer:

For example, the interpretation is convincing because Queen Elizabeth thought that Parliament’s main job was to vote her money and leave her to run the country. They only met for a total of 35 months during her 45-year reign. Generally, Elizabeth managed Parliament through her Privy councillors very well. When the MPs desire for freedom of speech issue came up against the Royal prerogative, Elizabeth often gave vague answers or used patronage to win over nobles and MPs to agree with her. Most MPs in Parliament thought their role was to serve the Queen. more than one aspect of the interpretation. For example, it is convincing because Elizabeth only summoned Parliament 13 times during her 45 years reign. As the Interpretation says, Elizabeth needed Parliament to give her money so she called them often at times of crisis, such as in 1588 with the Spanish Armada. But Parliament wanted free-speech to discuss what they thought was important, such as the Roman Catholic threat, For example, the interpretation is convincing because Queen Elizabeth knew there were many Puritans in Parliament, like Peter Wentworth, who wanted her to be stricter with Catholics and execute Mary, Queen of Scots. She told them not to discuss it but they ignored her. Answers may show understanding/support for interpretation, but the case is For example, Parliament wanted Elizabeth to get married but she said she was married to England.

Q2: Explain what was important about the theatre in Elizabethan England.

Answer:

the consequences of the stated development (the Elizabethan theatre) in the For example, it was important because the Elizabethan theatre showcased the idea that Elizabethans were living in a ‘Golden Age’. Playwrights were aware that the world was changing and they questioned medieval ideas. They gave voice to newly educated townspeople. The plays signalled the discoveries, both scientific and geographic, of the new age. The authorities were well aware of this new medium, and censored it when necessary but also used it as entertainment for the masses. For example, it was important that the theatre in Elizabethan times flourished despite opposition from groups like the Puritans, who would rather people went to church on Sunday than a play, or the city authorities in London who feared both crime, disorder, and disease. The Council of London banned plays within the city limits in 1574. For example, in Elizabethan England the theatre flourished, and became very popular because the Queen approved of it and enjoyed the plays. They were performed for her at court. The Queen, like the nobility, used their patronage to support her own troupe of players, ‘Queen’s Men’. It was important because visiting the theatre was a social event, where the ‘Lords’ rooms’ were the most For example, at the start of Elizabeth’s reign plays were put on in the courtyards of inns. By the end of the period plays were performed in purpose- built theatres. Rich people could sit in the gallery and the poor people gathered round the pit below the stage. There were many great playwrights like For example, rich and poor people enjoyed visiting the theatre. The place was

Q3: Write an account of the ways in which Catholic plots threatened Queen Elizabeth.

Answer:

reasoning supported by a range of accurate and detailed factual knowledge and understanding. For example, an explanation of different impacts/ consequences of change in the broader historical context. For example, the threat to Elizabeth was due to the danger of the involvement of a foreign power, such as Spain, to support a plot against Queen Elizabeth. England could fall under the control of a European Catholic power like Spain. This would be a blow for European Protestantism as after 1584 when William of Orange was assassinated, Elizabeth was the leading Protestant ruler in Europe. She had to support Dutch rebels with an army in 1585 to keep Spain occupied, this was open war with Spain. For example, the Catholic plots threatened the peace of England with civil war. Elizabeth had to be vigilant and used a network of spies and informers led by Sir Francis Walsingham. Elizabeth dealt ruthlessly with any plotters, such as in the Northern Rebellion 1569, and with the Ridolfi Plot in 1571 when she had her cousin, the Duke of Norfolk, executed. Similarly, after the Babington Plot, 1586, Elizabeth executed Mary, Queen of Scots, who might be used to replace Elizabeth. Elizabeth passed laws that made it difficult for Catholics to organise a plot that would threaten her. simple understanding of consequence(s) supported with factual knowledge and For example, because if Queen Elizabeth was killed, then another ruler like Mary, Queen of Scots, could replace her and change England’s religion from Protestant to Catholic. For example, the plotters wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘Improved navigation was the main consequence of Drake’s voyage around the world,

1577–1580.’ How far does a study of the Americas and Drake’s circumnavigation, 1577–1580 support this statement? Explain your answer. You should refer to the Americas and Drake’s circumnavigation, 1577–1580 and your contextual knowledge. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

To support their answer students could include aspects of the site such as: location, function, structure, design, people connected with the site, how the site reflects culture, values and fashions of the time and how the site links to important events and/or developments of the specified period. understanding of the site. For example, there were several consequences of Drake’s voyage to the Americas. The wealth he contributed to Elizabeth’s government was welcome and significant. The knowledge that he acquired from his voyage equipped others to return, but the shock of Drake’s expedition meant that Philip II reinforced his colonies with troops and subsequent English expeditions did not find such easy pickings. In the longer term, this meant that the English concentrated on exploring and exploiting North rather than South America. Answers may suggest that one factor has greater merit. For example, the obvious first consequence of Drake’s voyage was wealth which was immense and not only paid for the costs of the expedition but enticed others to repeat the trip. But the main consequence was to create a myth in Spanish eyes of a sailor with supernatural powers, a heretic who perhaps owed his success to the devil. Backed up by reports of enthusiastic Protestant services held on the ‘Golden Hind’ and by the plundering of Spanish colonial churches. Indeed, in Spanish, El Draque, fed the myth that he was a fire breathing dragon. Drake’s reputation was further enhanced by the raid on Cadiz in 1587 and his role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada the following For example, the main consequence of the voyage was a great increase in knowledge of South America and its potential. On his return, one of the first things he showed the Queen was the map of his voyage, his logbooks of the whole voyage and samples of his ‘cargo’. Drake stole rutters or navigational guidebooks, from Spanish ships that he intercepted. The Spanish were alarmed that Drake had this new knowledge. The Queen kept the success of Drake’s voyage secret from the Spanish ambassador because, as early as October 1580, they were planning a return trip with six ships to exploit this consequence by simple reasoning supported with factual knowledge and understanding of the site. For example, there was a massive profit from the voyage, on this, the West Coast of South America, Drake seized the great Spanish treasure ship, the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, it took six days to unload the treasure. When he reached England, he had nearly five tons of treasure, 650 bars of silver and over 100lbs worth of gold. Most went to Queen Elizabeth and the other backers of the voyage, Leicester, and Walsingham and the Hawkins brothers. The Queen gave him £10000 and £40000 to share amongst his For example, Drake brought back from the Americas large amounts of treasure which he had stolen from the Spanish. Drake had robbed a Spanish treasure ship of its gold, silver and jewels that was worth over £480 million in today’s