Elizabeth 1st

• Elizabeth I


  Queen of England
• How Queen Elizabeth I dealt with the problem of religion

  1. Implemented a policy of religious tolerance and compromise known as the Elizabethan Religious Settlement

  2. Established the Church of England as a Protestant church with herself as its Supreme Governor

  3. Passed the Act of Supremacy in 1559 reaffirming the monarch's authority over the church and requiring clergy and government officials to swear allegiance to the Crown

  4. Passed the Act of Uniformity in 1559 establishing the Book of Common Prayer as the official liturgy of the Church of England, combining elements of Catholic tradition with Protestant theology

  5. Allowed for some degree of religious freedom, as long as individuals attended services at their parish church
• Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity


  • Key components of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement
  • Established the monarch (Queen Elizabeth I) as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, asserting royal authority over the church
  • Required clergy and government officials to swear allegiance to the Crown and recognize the monarch's authority in religious matters
  • Established the Book of Common Prayer as the official liturgy of the Church of England, combining elements of Catholic tradition with Protestant theology
  • Aimed to maintain stability and unity in England by balancing Catholic and Protestant beliefs
• How Queen Elizabeth I dealt with the problem of marriage

  1. Emphasised her "Virgin Queen" image, portraying herself as a monarch who put the stability and security of England before her personal happiness

  2. Kept her thoughts on marriage private, but likely chose not to marry in order to protect England's security and remain independent of foreign influence

  3. Kept everyone guessing on the subject of who she might marry but never did

  4. Staying single allowed her to keep sole control of English affairs, namely government and religion, and enabled her to keep her options open in foreign affairs

  5. The ongoing uncertainty over the succession had the potential to lead to plots and attacks to overthrow Elizabeth
• Spanish Armada


  A fleet of armed ships sailing towards England in a crescent formation, sent by King Philip of Spain to invade England and attempt to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I
• Commanders of the Spanish Armada

  • The Duke of Medina Sidonia - little experience of sailing
  • Lord Howard of Effingham - little experience of fighting at sea, but Drake and Hawkins were both very experienced
• Composition of the Spanish Armada

  • 130 ships - 64 battleships, 22 huge galleons and 45 converted merchant ships
  • 200 ships - 54 strong, light and fast battleships, and 140 converted merchant ships
• Manpower of the Spanish Armada

  • 30,000 men on board the fleet and 20,000 soldiers on land
  • 14,000 men on board the fleet and 20,000 soldiers on land
• Food supplies of the Spanish Armada

  • Not fresh - six months' worth of supplies were stored on the ships
  • Fresh food supplied daily
• Weapons of the Spanish Armada

  • 2,000 large cannon - could fire heavy cannon balls, but only over a short distance and were slow to load
  • 200 smaller cannon - could fire over long distance and were quick to load
• Tactics for fighting at sea


  • Get close so men could board and capture the enemy ships
  • Destroy enemy ships by firing cannon at them from a distance