1
Early Elizabethan England Edexcel
GCSE History| Exam Part III| Questions
and Verified Answers| Updated
2025/2026| 100%
Analyse the causes of conflict between England and Spain by the 1580s.
Religious rivalry, piracy, and English support for Dutch rebels meant war was almost
unavoidable.
Assess the significance of Drake’s raid on Cadiz in 1587.
It delayed the Armada and showed England could hit Spain hard—it was called “singeing the
King of Spain’s beard” for a reason.
Why did Philip II launch the Armada in 1588?
He wanted to restore Catholicism, punish Elizabeth for helping rebels and pirates, and take
the English throne if he could.
Explain how the English defeated the Spanish Armada.
They had faster ships, better tactics (like fire ships), and luck with the weather. The Spanish
were scattered and smashed.
, 2
How did Elizabeth use patronage to maintain control?
She handed out jobs, titles, and favours—so powerful people stayed loyal, hoping for
rewards.
Why did Elizabeth face difficulties controlling Ireland?
The Irish were Catholic and didn’t accept English rule. Rebellions were brutally put down,
which just made things worse.
Explain why Elizabeth’s legitimacy was questioned at the start of her reign.
Her mum (Anne Boleyn) was seen as Henry VIII’s mistress, not wife, by Catholics—so they
thought Elizabeth was born out of wedlock.
Analyse why the issue of marriage was such a big deal for Elizabeth.
If she married, she might lose power or pick a foreign husband. But if she didn’t, there’d be
no heir—so people worried about a future civil war.
Assess the impact of the religious settlement of 1559.
It brought some stability by mixing Protestant rules with a few Catholic touches, but
hardcore Catholics and Puritans still weren’t happy.
Explain how Elizabeth used church courts to strengthen her rule.
They punished things like not going to church—so they pushed loyalty to Elizabeth as
Supreme Governor.
, 3
Why was Mary, Queen of Scots seen as a threat to Elizabeth’s throne?
She was Catholic, had a strong claim, and was backed by powerful allies like France and
Spain.
Explore the reasons for the Revolt of the Northern Earls in 1569.
Catholic nobles wanted Mary on the throne, and they hated how Elizabeth was cutting their
influence in the north.
Evaluate the significance of the excommunication of Elizabeth in 1570.
It gave Catholic plots more confidence because the Pope basically said it was okay to get rid
of her.
Why did Elizabeth execute Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587?
After years of plots and pressure, Mary’s clear link to the Babington Plot gave Elizabeth no
choice—it was Mary or her.
Discuss why the Babington Plot was more serious than earlier ones.
It had foreign support, planned Elizabeth’s murder, and had Mary’s direct approval. That was
the final straw.
, 4
Examine how Elizabeth used propaganda to build her image.
Portraits showed her as powerful, pure, and youthful—even when she wasn’t. It helped keep
her in control without force.
Assess the challenges Elizabeth faced from Puritans.
They wanted more extreme Protestant changes, like banning bishops and fancy churches.
She had to shut them down to keep order.
Explore how Parliament caused problems for Elizabeth.
They kept bringing up marriage and religion—topics she didn’t want debated. She had to
shut them up sometimes to keep control.
Why did the problem of poverty grow in Elizabethan England?
Bad harvests, rising prices, and fewer jobs (especially after monasteries closed) meant more
people couldn’t afford to live.
Evaluate the effectiveness of Elizabeth’s policies towards the poor.
The 1601 Poor Law made local areas responsible for helping the needy—better than nothing,
but not always fair or consistent.
Explain why education became more important during Elizabeth’s reign.
Humanist ideas and Protestant beliefs pushed reading the Bible. Plus, the rich wanted better-
educated sons (and sometimes daughters).
Early Elizabethan England Edexcel
GCSE History| Exam Part III| Questions
and Verified Answers| Updated
2025/2026| 100%
Analyse the causes of conflict between England and Spain by the 1580s.
Religious rivalry, piracy, and English support for Dutch rebels meant war was almost
unavoidable.
Assess the significance of Drake’s raid on Cadiz in 1587.
It delayed the Armada and showed England could hit Spain hard—it was called “singeing the
King of Spain’s beard” for a reason.
Why did Philip II launch the Armada in 1588?
He wanted to restore Catholicism, punish Elizabeth for helping rebels and pirates, and take
the English throne if he could.
Explain how the English defeated the Spanish Armada.
They had faster ships, better tactics (like fire ships), and luck with the weather. The Spanish
were scattered and smashed.
, 2
How did Elizabeth use patronage to maintain control?
She handed out jobs, titles, and favours—so powerful people stayed loyal, hoping for
rewards.
Why did Elizabeth face difficulties controlling Ireland?
The Irish were Catholic and didn’t accept English rule. Rebellions were brutally put down,
which just made things worse.
Explain why Elizabeth’s legitimacy was questioned at the start of her reign.
Her mum (Anne Boleyn) was seen as Henry VIII’s mistress, not wife, by Catholics—so they
thought Elizabeth was born out of wedlock.
Analyse why the issue of marriage was such a big deal for Elizabeth.
If she married, she might lose power or pick a foreign husband. But if she didn’t, there’d be
no heir—so people worried about a future civil war.
Assess the impact of the religious settlement of 1559.
It brought some stability by mixing Protestant rules with a few Catholic touches, but
hardcore Catholics and Puritans still weren’t happy.
Explain how Elizabeth used church courts to strengthen her rule.
They punished things like not going to church—so they pushed loyalty to Elizabeth as
Supreme Governor.
, 3
Why was Mary, Queen of Scots seen as a threat to Elizabeth’s throne?
She was Catholic, had a strong claim, and was backed by powerful allies like France and
Spain.
Explore the reasons for the Revolt of the Northern Earls in 1569.
Catholic nobles wanted Mary on the throne, and they hated how Elizabeth was cutting their
influence in the north.
Evaluate the significance of the excommunication of Elizabeth in 1570.
It gave Catholic plots more confidence because the Pope basically said it was okay to get rid
of her.
Why did Elizabeth execute Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587?
After years of plots and pressure, Mary’s clear link to the Babington Plot gave Elizabeth no
choice—it was Mary or her.
Discuss why the Babington Plot was more serious than earlier ones.
It had foreign support, planned Elizabeth’s murder, and had Mary’s direct approval. That was
the final straw.
, 4
Examine how Elizabeth used propaganda to build her image.
Portraits showed her as powerful, pure, and youthful—even when she wasn’t. It helped keep
her in control without force.
Assess the challenges Elizabeth faced from Puritans.
They wanted more extreme Protestant changes, like banning bishops and fancy churches.
She had to shut them down to keep order.
Explore how Parliament caused problems for Elizabeth.
They kept bringing up marriage and religion—topics she didn’t want debated. She had to
shut them up sometimes to keep control.
Why did the problem of poverty grow in Elizabethan England?
Bad harvests, rising prices, and fewer jobs (especially after monasteries closed) meant more
people couldn’t afford to live.
Evaluate the effectiveness of Elizabeth’s policies towards the poor.
The 1601 Poor Law made local areas responsible for helping the needy—better than nothing,
but not always fair or consistent.
Explain why education became more important during Elizabeth’s reign.
Humanist ideas and Protestant beliefs pushed reading the Bible. Plus, the rich wanted better-
educated sons (and sometimes daughters).
