10. GCSE History Elizabeth I: Revolt of Northern Earls

In which part of England were many people still strongly Catholic, despite Elizabeth making England a Protestant country?

• The South West

• Scotland

• The East

• The North

Answer explanation

People in the north were far away from Elizabeth and her Parliament. This means they were under less influence.

Which group of people in the north of England had their power and influence reduced because now Elizabeth was in charge of England?

• The Catholic Nobles

• The Puritan Bishops

• The Protestant Lords

• The peasants

Answer explanation

The Catholic nobles in the north had been used to huge wealth and power. They feared they would lose this under the reign of Elizabeth.

What angered the Northern Nobles and Earls about Elizabeth's new government?

• It included far too many people and decision making would be slow.

• Elizabeth had chosen mainly Protestants to be part of her government.

• Elizabeth had chosen mainly powerful men from the south which gave the north little say.

Answer explanation

Some of the men Elizabeth chose were young and from the lower ranks of the nobility. The Catholic Earls did not like this.

Why did the Northern Earls revolt in 1569?

• The earls and their followers wanted the Catholic faith to be brought back to England.

• The earls were not happy with Elizabeth's treatment of the poor.

• The earls were unhappy with Elizabeth's choice of official portraits.

Answer explanation

Remember, this is one of many reasons!

True r False? The Northern Earls had lost a lot of their power and influence in parliament now that Elizabeth was Queen.

• True

• False

Which person did the Northern Earls wish to become the next monarch (king or queen) of England?

• Philip of Spain

• Robert Dudley

• Mary, Queen of Scots

• Mary I

Answer explanation

They believed that bringing Mary, Queen of Scots as Queen of England would not only make England Catholic again but give them back their power.

Who did Elizabeth appoint as a powerful, Protestant Archbishop of Durham in 1561?

• The Earl of Northumberland

• The Earl of Westmoreland

• James Pilkington

• William Cecil

Answer explanation

Putting a Protestant archbishop in charge of a northern part of England showed that Elizabeth wanted to make sure ALL parts of England were Protestant.

Which of the following statements is true?

• The new Archbishop of Durham, James Pilkington, introduced very strict rules against Catholics in the north and he became very unpopular.

• The new Archbishop of Durham, James Pilkington, introduced fair rules for the Catholics in the north and he was popular with Catholics.

Which two of the following men, were unpopular with the Catholic Earls as Elizabeth had chosen them to be part of her close advisors not them?

• Francis Drake

• William Cecil

• Robert Dudley

• Francis Walsingham

Which of the following was another reason why the Northern Earls were annoyed with Elizabeth?

• Elizabeth would not name an heir and had no desire to marry and have children.

• Elizabeth wanted little to do with the north of England and just worried about what happened in the south.

Answer explanation

Without naming an heir or having children, this put England at risk of either invasion or civil war.