Elizabathen Era

• her mother Anne Boleyn had been executed by Henry VIII
• the catholic church wanted Mary Queen of Scots on the throne as she was Catholic
• The Spanish Armada was defeated in July 1588
• Elizabeth was also called 'The Virgin Queen' because she never married or had children.
• Elizabeth's reign is known as the Elizabethan era
• elizabeth was not liked as a monarch because she was a woman
• Elizabeth was a protestant
• Act of uniformity: 1559 - all churches had to follow the same service and prayers and use the same book
• Act of Supremacy: Elizabeth passed the law that she was the supreme leader of the church of england
• Puritans were strict protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England by removing Catholic practices such as kneeling at communion, wearing vestments and using candles during services
• France was the biggest threat to Elizabeth because of their strong links with Mary queen of scots
• Mary Queen of Scots was catholic so this made her an enemy of elizabeth
• The Spanish Armada was sent to invade england but they lost due to bad weather and poor planning
• the armada failed becuase it got stuck in the channel waiting for good winds which never came
• Elizabeth was seen as illegitimate
• Elizabeth gained £250,000 of debt from her sister Mary I
• her privy council was made up of 19 noblemen who would advise her
• the privy council dealed with foreign issues and domestic issues
• the privy council met everyday and were advised not to take control
• William Cecil was Elizabeth's secretary of state and was the most important minster to Elizabeth
• Robert Dudley was a trusted adviser to Elizabeth and was even rumoured to have a relationship with her . died in 1588
• Sir Francis Walsingham was in charge of the secret service and uncovered the plot that led to Mary queen of scots' execution in 1586
• Elizabeth was highly educated
• Elizabeth was married to her people and the nation
• as she was single she had sole control of England
• however she had no heir to the throne
• her potencial husbands were:

  Robert Dudley - who was already married

  Phillip King of Spain - was married to Mary I and was Catholic

  Archduke Charles - Catholic

  Francis Duke of Alencon - died before a match
• Elizabeth came to power in 1558
• if someone converted to be a Catholic was guilty of treason and could be put to death
• The pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth from the Catholic Church