In what year did Elizabeth I ascend the throne?
1558
What significant challenges did Elizabeth I inherit upon ascending the throne?
Religious, political, and financial challenges
What internal strife did the Tudor dynasty face during Elizabeth’s reign?
Religious affiliations between Protestant and Catholic populations
What was the key aim of Elizabeth’s reign?
To unify England and establish a stable government
What characterized the period of Elizabeth’s reign from 1558 to 1603?
Aftermath of the Protestant Reformation and the Marian persecutions
How many Marian exiles returned to England during Elizabeth’s reign?
800
Which foreign powers posed external threats to England during Elizabeth’s reign?
France and Spain
What was the religious landscape in England in 1558?
Protestant strongholds in urban areas and a Catholic majority among the gentry and nobility
What was the purpose of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement of 1559?
To create a ‘via media’ to appease both Protestant and Catholic factions
What did the Act of Supremacy establish?
Elizabeth as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England
What was a key feature of the Act of Uniformity?
Ambiguous language in the Book of Common Prayer
What was a success of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement?
Majority of Marian clergy conformed to the new settlement
What was a failure of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement?
Significant resistance from Marian bishops, with only one accepting the settlement
What societal expectation did Elizabeth I face as a female ruler?
That a woman could not rule effectively, especially in a time of war
What dictated a woman’s status in Elizabethan society?
The Great Chain of Being
How did Elizabeth use her gender as a political tool?
Leveraging perceptions of female indecision to delay decisions
What title did Elizabeth hold to mitigate opposition from Catholics?
Supreme Governor
What foreign conflict did Elizabeth inherit?
A state still technically at war with France
What was the significance of the loss of Calais?
It posed a significant threat to English morale
What treaty ended the war with France?
Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
What economic challenges did Elizabeth face at her ascension?
Inherited a debt of £300,000 and ongoing military conflict costs
What exacerbated inflation and economic instability during Elizabeth’s reign?
Rising populations and influx of Spanish gold
What financial achievement did Elizabeth accomplish by 1585?
Paid off the Marian debt and built a reserve of £300,000
What key reforms did Elizabeth implement for financial management?
Ending the costly war with France, remodelling ships, freezing official salaries
