The Weimar Republic 1918–1929 · Autumn Term

Mary, Queen of Scots: Arrival and Threat

Mary, Queen of Scots' arrival in England and the initial threat she posed to Elizabeth.

About This Topic

The 'Golden Age?' topic challenges students to evaluate whether Elizabethan England was truly a time of prosperity and cultural brilliance or a period of deep social inequality and hardship. Students explore the world of Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, the rise of the 'gentry,' and the harsh reality of life for the 'impotent' and 'able-bodied' poor.

In the GCSE curriculum, a key focus is the 1601 Poor Law, the first national system of welfare. Students must analyze why the government felt the need to act (fear of rebellion) and how they categorized the poor. This topic is best taught through 'comparative' activities where students look at the lives of different social classes and 'role plays' of a local magistrate deciding who deserves 'relief'.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Social Hierarchy

Students are given 'profiles' of people from different classes (a nobleman, a merchant, a tenant farmer, a vagabond). They must place them on a 'social ladder' and identify their typical income, housing, and diet, discussing the massive gap between the top and bottom.

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

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Role Play: The Poor Law Tribunal

Students act as local overseers of the poor. They must interview three 'beggars': an elderly widow (impotent poor), a disabled soldier (deserving poor), and a healthy young man (sturdy beggar). They must decide what 'relief' or 'punishment' each receives according to the 1601 law.

⏱ 35 min·Small Groups

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Think-Pair-Share: The Globe Theatre

Students look at a diagram of the Globe. They discuss in pairs how the seating (from the 'groundlings' in the pit to the 'lords' rooms') reflected the social order of the time, and why the theater was one of the few places where all classes mixed.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Everyone in Elizabethan England loved Shakespeare.

What to Teach Instead

While popular, many Puritans hated the theater, calling it a 'den of iniquity' that spread disease and immorality. A 'theatre debate' activity helps students see the cultural tensions of the time.

Common Misconception

The Poor Laws were designed to be kind to the poor.

What to Teach Instead

They were primarily designed to maintain order and prevent riots. 'Sturdy beggars' were often whipped or sent to houses of correction. A 'motive analysis' activity helps students see the 'fear of the mob' behind the legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did poverty increase during Elizabeth's reign?

Several factors combined: a rising population (which led to lower wages), bad harvests in the 1590s, and 'enclosure' (where common land was fenced off for sheep farming, putting laborers out of work). The dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII also meant there was no longer a church-based safety net for the poor.

What was the 1601 Poor Law?

It was the first national law that made each parish responsible for its own poor. It introduced a 'poor rate' (tax) to pay for 'relief.' It divided the poor into three groups: the 'impotent' (who couldn't work), the 'able-bodied' (who were given work), and the 'idle' (who were punished).

Was Elizabethan England really a 'Golden Age'?

It depends on who you were. For the wealthy and the rising middle class, it was a time of new houses, education, and culture. For the bottom 30% of the population, it was a time of extreme hardship, rising prices, and the constant threat of starvation or punishment for vagrancy.

How can active learning help students understand the Elizabethan social order?

Active learning, such as a 'social hierarchy' role play, helps students feel the 'rigidity' of the class system. When they have to 'bow' to a higher-ranking student or see the difference in their 'rations' for the day, the concept of a 'Great Chain of Being' becomes tangible. This peer-based exploration makes the social tensions and the government's fear of the 'sturdy beggar' much more understandable.

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