Queen Elizabeth I
14-1
Background
I. Reign of Henry VIII
– A. 1509- Becomes King and marries
Catherine of Aragon
– B. 1515- Catherine gives birth to
Elizabeth’s sister Mary I
– C. 1533- Henry divorces Catherine and
marries Anne Boleyn
– D. 1533- Elizabeth is born
– E. 1536- Anne Boleyn is executed
II. Religion under Henry VIII
– 1517- Martin Luther protests in Germany
– 1533- Henry’s divorce causes a rift with
Rome
Henry declares himself the Supreme Head of
the English Church
English Church is a Protestant Church
III. Edward VI
– Son of Henry VIII’s 3rd wife, Jane
Seymour
– 1547- Takes the throne at age 10
– 1549- abolishes the idea of Purgatory and
prayers for the dead
Differences between Catholics
and English Protestants
Catholics pledge Highest spiritual
allegiance to the authority in England
Pope is the Monarch
Catholics believe in Protestants
transubstantiation celebrate
Catholics believe in communion as
the hierarchy and symbolic
authority of the Protestants are
Roman Church suspicious of
images, ritual, icons
IV. Reign of Mary Tudor
– 1533- Mary Tudor comes to power
(daughter of Henry’s 1st wife)
– Called “Bloody Mary” because she
persecuted protestants
– Tried to Make England Catholic again
– Married Phillip II of Spain
V. Reign of Queen Elizabeth
A. 1558- Takes the throne after the
death of Elizabeth
B. Repealed laws favoring Catholics
C. Made herself the head of Church
and State
– Adopted a moderate form of
Protestantism that kept England Satisfied
D. Supported a moderate foreign policy
– 1. Attempted to keep Spain and France from
gaining too much power
E. Phillip II of Spain believed if he invaded
England, the people would rise up against
their queen to return to Catholicism
F. Philip put together the Spanish Armada-
the greatest fleet of warships ever
assembled
– The Armada was defeated and English
Catholics never rose up against their
queen
VI. Marriage Conroversy
Elizabeth refused to marry, earning her
the nickname “the Virgin Queen”
She used suitors to gain political favor
Her refusal to marry meant that the line
of succession was in question
Elizabeth feared a husband would
cause her to lose control of her
kingdom
VII. Feud with Mary Queen of
Scots
Mary Queen of Scots was Catholic and
backed by the French
Elizabeth feared the French and sent
troops into Scotland to support
Protestant rebels- she was successful
Scottish nobles forced Mary to
abdicate her throne to her son
Mary sought refuge in England
Elizabeth imprisoned Mary for 19 years
While imprisoned, a plot was found that
would put Mary on the throne in
England
Elizabeth had Mary beheaded
VIII. Her Death
Elizabeth died in 1603 and James VI of
Scotland took the throne
Elizabeth’s reign gave the time period
a name- The Elizabethan Era
At the end of her reign, England was a
world power
She reigned at the time of
Shakespeare