Accession to the throne (religion and debt)

Question 1

Upon Elizabeth’s accession to the throne what did she have to decide and what was the impact of her decision

Answer 1

Had to decide countries religion
Lizzy was Protestant Catholics posed a real threat to ELizabeth if they attacked

Question 2

How much debt did Lizzy inherit and from who
What was the Crowns annual income

Answer 2

£300,000 from Mary I war against France
Huge amount of money considering annual income of the Crown was £286,000

Question 3

What did Lizzy’s debt mean for England

Answer 3

Vulnerable to attack
To raise money Elizabeth would have to make the immediate decision of raising taxers and would be unpopular with ordinary people - increase risk of being disliked

Question 4

Why was Mary seen as an illegitimate queen

approve, alive,illegitimate

Answer 4

Catholics refused to accept Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s marriage as it had not been approved by the Pope
Pope never approved Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon in 1533 + Catherine was still alive when Elizabeth was born = immediate criticism to the throne
When Henry executed Anne Boleyn 1536, declared Lizzy as illegitimate (however reversed this decision before dying)

Question 5

Why was Elizabeth unmarried

2nd, vice versa,debt

Answer 5

Marrying would give away some of her power and would most likely have to adopt a secondary role due to patriarchal societal views
If Elizabeth married Protestant would anger Catholics
If Elizabeth married Catholics would anger Protestants
Marriage could involve England in expensive wars damaging royal finances - debt already there