Religion was Elizabeth’s main problem when she
became queen of England in 1558. How far do you
agree? Explain your answer (20 marks)
Elizabeth had a very challenging task of taking the throne at 25 in the judgmental
Tudor society she was living in, and many problems to face. Elizabeth took the
throne in 1558 during a reformation, for two years previous monarchs moved the
Church of England back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism and this
created confusion and chaos. However, although religion past religious con ict and
violence was a signi cant problem for Elizabeth she also needed to deal with the
challenge of her character being attacked due to her gender and bias towards the
public believing women are incapable of being a successful ruler and monarch.
Elizabeth had to try and unite both religions and create a ‘via media’ and she did
this through the religious settlement that was pushed through the 1559 parliament.
This could be viewed as Elizabeth’s biggest problem due to the fact that harsh
religious violence took place before her reign and there was confusion in which
religion had most power in England. Mary I burnt 300 protestants at the stake and
this emphasised the religious challenge that Elizabeth had to face as extreme
violence was ordered my previous monarchs towards a religion. The e ect of this
was chaos between religions and confusion if more violence would take place. The
religious settlement came in three parts the act of supremacy, the act of uniformity
and the royal injunctions. At rst glance, in Elizabeth is bias towards Protestant
views and beliefs due to the Protestant upbringing she was accustomed. All the
rules in this settlement are supporting what Protestants believed, apart from the
images and vestments being allowed, but Elizabeth only did this to keep the
Catholic population satis ed. However, it is later proven in 1570, when the
Catholics challenge Elizabeth that they were not satis ed by this settlement and
saw and understood the bias that took place in it. Elizabeth could be viewed as
self entitled, as she puts her beliefs in the settlement instead of involving more
Catholic opinions, after stating she wanted to create a middle way. As she makes
royal supremacy preaches this also supports this as she is not putting her country
needs and wants in front of her own. However, she also could be viewed as
strategic and intellectually strong due to the fact she is trying to create balance
and nd solutions to the problems that she faces as queen. Additionally, another
reason to support religion being Elizabeth’s biggest threat was France and the
power that it had at the time. France was Englands biggest rival and when
Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 there was a war happening between England and
France and religion was identi ed as the cause. Therefore as well as monarchs
creating religious violence there was violence happening between powerful
countries, and this created unnecessary bloodshed, therefore emphasising religion
as Elizabeth’s biggest challenge to face prior to her accession. Spain, France and
Scotland were all very strong and powerful Catholic countries that were all
surrounding England, therefore making England vulnerable if they were to preach
Protestant beliefs. Spain had conquered the ‘New World’ which is now known as
America and were the strongest country of this time and controlled the Protestant
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became queen of England in 1558. How far do you
agree? Explain your answer (20 marks)
Elizabeth had a very challenging task of taking the throne at 25 in the judgmental
Tudor society she was living in, and many problems to face. Elizabeth took the
throne in 1558 during a reformation, for two years previous monarchs moved the
Church of England back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism and this
created confusion and chaos. However, although religion past religious con ict and
violence was a signi cant problem for Elizabeth she also needed to deal with the
challenge of her character being attacked due to her gender and bias towards the
public believing women are incapable of being a successful ruler and monarch.
Elizabeth had to try and unite both religions and create a ‘via media’ and she did
this through the religious settlement that was pushed through the 1559 parliament.
This could be viewed as Elizabeth’s biggest problem due to the fact that harsh
religious violence took place before her reign and there was confusion in which
religion had most power in England. Mary I burnt 300 protestants at the stake and
this emphasised the religious challenge that Elizabeth had to face as extreme
violence was ordered my previous monarchs towards a religion. The e ect of this
was chaos between religions and confusion if more violence would take place. The
religious settlement came in three parts the act of supremacy, the act of uniformity
and the royal injunctions. At rst glance, in Elizabeth is bias towards Protestant
views and beliefs due to the Protestant upbringing she was accustomed. All the
rules in this settlement are supporting what Protestants believed, apart from the
images and vestments being allowed, but Elizabeth only did this to keep the
Catholic population satis ed. However, it is later proven in 1570, when the
Catholics challenge Elizabeth that they were not satis ed by this settlement and
saw and understood the bias that took place in it. Elizabeth could be viewed as
self entitled, as she puts her beliefs in the settlement instead of involving more
Catholic opinions, after stating she wanted to create a middle way. As she makes
royal supremacy preaches this also supports this as she is not putting her country
needs and wants in front of her own. However, she also could be viewed as
strategic and intellectually strong due to the fact she is trying to create balance
and nd solutions to the problems that she faces as queen. Additionally, another
reason to support religion being Elizabeth’s biggest threat was France and the
power that it had at the time. France was Englands biggest rival and when
Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 there was a war happening between England and
France and religion was identi ed as the cause. Therefore as well as monarchs
creating religious violence there was violence happening between powerful
countries, and this created unnecessary bloodshed, therefore emphasising religion
as Elizabeth’s biggest challenge to face prior to her accession. Spain, France and
Scotland were all very strong and powerful Catholic countries that were all
surrounding England, therefore making England vulnerable if they were to preach
Protestant beliefs. Spain had conquered the ‘New World’ which is now known as
America and were the strongest country of this time and controlled the Protestant
fi fi fi fi fi fi ff fl
