Elizabethan Era (up to Mary Queen of Scots’ execution)
Early Life
Parents: King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
Henry VIII is known for his six wives and swapping from
Catholicism to Protestantism. This was the Reformation.
Sister – Queen Mary I AKA Bloody Mary. Famous for burning 300
Protestants at the stake. She was Queen 1553-1558. Her husband
was the Catholic King Philip II of Spain. She chose Elizabeth as
her successor as E said she would keep England Catholic.
Brother – Edward VI – King of England from 1547-1553. He was
Protestant and so carried on Henry’s Protestant rule of England.
He had very strict anti-Catholic laws, for example removing the
images of Catholic saints in Churches.
Thomas Seymour – The Uncle of Edward VI. In 1548 – He made
advances on Elizabeth despite being three times her age. He
wanted more power.
When Elizabeth succeeded to the throne, there were many
problems…
Succession:
She was an unmarried woman and was seen as illegitimate – She
should not be able to rule. This was due partly to her Protestant
faith, also down to her being the daughter of Henry’s second
marriage with AB. Catholics did not consider this marriage
“true”.
Religion:
She was Protestant, a lot of people in England were Catholic
and had just taken the throne over from a Catholic. A lot of
Catholics in England support MQOS because of this. A lot of
the Government are Catholic so don’t ally with her.
Economy:
The cloth trade in Europe collapses, this has a big economic
impact on England and lots of people lose their jobs. Therefore,
, England is in a lot of debt when she becomes Queen, leading to an
increasing issue of poverty and vagrancy.
Other countries:
Spain – King Philip wanted to marry Elizabeth so he could
remain the King of England, she said no, leading to a bad
relationship between the two countries
Government: Catholics in Government as Elizabeth inherited
Mary’s advisers (Catholic).
Society: Increase in poverty
The Act of Supremacy
This is when England identifies as a Protestant country. She is now
in charge of the Church. All members of the church have to swear
an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth, recognising her as Head of the
Church. If people refused to accept, they had three chances
before they were executed.
The Act of Uniformity
All Church services are in English. Bible/Prayer Book is in English.
All the same rules for churches in terms of decoration etc –
allowed to wear vestments with some colour. Catholics could still
have their separate faith, but must attend Protestant church
services or be fined (officials tended to turn a blind eye though)
The Challenge of the Puritans
Who were the Puritans?
Puritans are ‘extreme Protestants’. During this period, they
were still a small minority compared to Catholics and
Protestants. They have strict views, e.g hatred of the theatre.
There are some in the Elizabethan government, e.g Francis
Walsingham, the spymaster. In the 1570s and 80s, many MPs
Early Life
Parents: King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
Henry VIII is known for his six wives and swapping from
Catholicism to Protestantism. This was the Reformation.
Sister – Queen Mary I AKA Bloody Mary. Famous for burning 300
Protestants at the stake. She was Queen 1553-1558. Her husband
was the Catholic King Philip II of Spain. She chose Elizabeth as
her successor as E said she would keep England Catholic.
Brother – Edward VI – King of England from 1547-1553. He was
Protestant and so carried on Henry’s Protestant rule of England.
He had very strict anti-Catholic laws, for example removing the
images of Catholic saints in Churches.
Thomas Seymour – The Uncle of Edward VI. In 1548 – He made
advances on Elizabeth despite being three times her age. He
wanted more power.
When Elizabeth succeeded to the throne, there were many
problems…
Succession:
She was an unmarried woman and was seen as illegitimate – She
should not be able to rule. This was due partly to her Protestant
faith, also down to her being the daughter of Henry’s second
marriage with AB. Catholics did not consider this marriage
“true”.
Religion:
She was Protestant, a lot of people in England were Catholic
and had just taken the throne over from a Catholic. A lot of
Catholics in England support MQOS because of this. A lot of
the Government are Catholic so don’t ally with her.
Economy:
The cloth trade in Europe collapses, this has a big economic
impact on England and lots of people lose their jobs. Therefore,
, England is in a lot of debt when she becomes Queen, leading to an
increasing issue of poverty and vagrancy.
Other countries:
Spain – King Philip wanted to marry Elizabeth so he could
remain the King of England, she said no, leading to a bad
relationship between the two countries
Government: Catholics in Government as Elizabeth inherited
Mary’s advisers (Catholic).
Society: Increase in poverty
The Act of Supremacy
This is when England identifies as a Protestant country. She is now
in charge of the Church. All members of the church have to swear
an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth, recognising her as Head of the
Church. If people refused to accept, they had three chances
before they were executed.
The Act of Uniformity
All Church services are in English. Bible/Prayer Book is in English.
All the same rules for churches in terms of decoration etc –
allowed to wear vestments with some colour. Catholics could still
have their separate faith, but must attend Protestant church
services or be fined (officials tended to turn a blind eye though)
The Challenge of the Puritans
Who were the Puritans?
Puritans are ‘extreme Protestants’. During this period, they
were still a small minority compared to Catholics and
Protestants. They have strict views, e.g hatred of the theatre.
There are some in the Elizabethan government, e.g Francis
Walsingham, the spymaster. In the 1570s and 80s, many MPs
