Elizabeth: Challenges when she became queen (1558)

Question 1

name 7 challenges Elizabeth faced when she became Queen

Answer 1

1. she had been declared illegitimate
2. people thought it was unnatural for a woman to be in charge
3. she was expected to marry and produce an heir
4. the english economy was weak
5. war with France
6. french threat in scotland
7. religion

Question 2

why was Elizabeth’s gender a problem?

Answer 2

• in the 16th century, most people believed the monarch should be a man. They thought that a rule by a woman was unnatural. The violence and chaos of Mary I’s reign had reinforced people’s belief that women could not rule successfully
• most people expected Elizabeth to act as a figurehead, without any real power. They thought she would let her male counsellors take control or find a husband to govern for her
• but elizabeth was determined to rule in her own right and refused to let counsellors take over

Question 3

why was Elizabeth declared illegitimate?

Answer 3

In 1533, Henry VIII had divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and married Anne Boleyn. Divorce was forbidden in the Catholic Church, so many Catholics believed that Henry’s marriage to Anne was not valid and that their daughter, Elizabeth, was illegitimate.

When Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn was dissolved and Anne was executed in 1536, Henry declared Elizabeth illegitimate. Although Henry later changed his mind about this, some Protestants still questioned Elizabeth’s legitimacy.

Question 4

why was the issue of Elizabeth’s legitimacy a problem?

Answer 4

it weakened her claim to the throne and allowed others, especially Mary, Queen of Scots, to claim that they had more right to rule

Question 5

why was Elizabeth expected to marry and produce and heir?

Answer 5

• because people believed that women couldn’t rule effectively, there was pressure for Elizabeth to find a husband who could rule for her
• there were also concerns about the succession. If Elizabeth died without an heir, there would be a risk of civil war, with different groups competing for the throne. To prevent this, Elizabeth was expected to marry and produce an heir as quickly as possible
• elizabeth was reluctant to marry - women had to obey their husbands, so she would lose her power and freedom if she married. Because Elizabeth never married, she became known as the ‘Virgin Queen’

Question 6

how could choosing a husband create serious political problems?

Answer 6

if Elizabeth chose a member of the English nobility, this would create anger and resentment among those who weren’t chosen. But if she married a European prince or king, this could give a foreign country too much control over England

Question 7

why was the English economy weak when Elizabeth became queen?

Answer 7

1. under King Edward VI, huge sums of money had been spent on wars in Scotland. Queen Mary I had also spent too much money. As a result, Elizabeth inherited enormous debts when she became queen - ~£300,000
2. Mary I had sold off large amounts of land owned by the Crown to cover her debts. Although this had raised money in the short term, in the longer term in reduced the monarch’s income from rent
3. The taxation system was old-fashioned and ineffective. While ordinary people faced high taxes, it had become very common for members of the nobility and gentry to pay less tax than they owed
4. England was suffering high levels of inflation. This meant that prices were rising, while wages stayed the same or fell. The poor and those living in urban areas were hit hardest by inflation

Question 8

when elizabeth became queen, why was she reluctant to reform the tax system and raise taxes?

Answer 8

she feared it would upset the nobility and gentry who supported her government

Question 9

why did Elizabeth inherit a war with France? What did she do about it?

Answer 9

1. in 1557, Mary I took England to war with France. She did this to support her husband, Philip II of Spain, who was already fighting the French.
2. The war was not a success. In January 1558, the french conquered Calais, England’s last remaining territory on the European mainland. This made it more difficult for the English to control the channel, and increased the risk of a French invasion
3. when Elizabeth became queen in November 1558, she wanted to end the war with France as quickly as possible. Peace was agreed in 1559

Question 10

why was there still a French threat in Scotland after the war with France ended in 1559?

Answer 10

1. when elizabeth became queen, Scotland was controlled by France’s Catholic royal family and there were many French troops in the country. However, french rule was unpopular with many Scots
2. in 1558, Mary, Queen of Scots married the heir to the French throne. As Catholics, the french royal family dislike Elizabeth and wanted England to be ruled by a Catholic. Mary’s marriage increased the risk that the French might invade from Scotland to try and put her on the English throne
3. In the late 1550s, Scottish Protestants, led by the preacher John Knox, rebelled against French rule. They appealed to England for support, and in 1560 English troops and ships were sent to help them
4. The French were defeated and forced to leave Scotland. The departure of the French, combined with the death of Mary’s French husband in 1560, greatly reduced the threat of invasion

Question 11

What in England contributed to the threat from abroad?

Answer 11

there were many Catholics in England who wanted to be ruled by a Catholic monarch. If the French invaded, there was a risk that the Catholics would betray Queen Elizabeth and support the French

Question 12

why was Elizabeth’s lack of an heir a problem?

Answer 12

It made people uncertain about the future

Mary, Queen of Scots does have a son, which could increase support for Mary, Queen of Scots.