Background and character of Elizabeth I

Who was Elizabeth I?

The queen of England

When did Queen Elizabeth reign?

1558-1603

What age was Elizabeth when she was crowned?

25

Who were Elizabeth’s parents?

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

Who were her siblings?

Edward VI and Mary I

How much authority did Elizabeth have?

The most in the country as she controlled Parliament

In what way did Elizabeth control parliament?

She set the agenda of what they could discuss and pass laws about

How much influence did Parliament gain throughout Elizabeth‘s reign?

A little, since they controlled her income through taxes, and sometimes countered her opinion

How did the religion of England change?

Previously Catholic for 600 years, Henry VIII changed the religion to Protestant through the creation of the Church of England. After his death, Edward VI maintained this religion, but moved England further towards Puritanism - when he died, Mary I reverted the country to extreme Catholicism, burning several hundred Puritans at the stake. So when Elizabeth I took control of the country as a Protestant, she needed to ensure that she had the support of most of the country

What did Elizabeth do in terms of religion for the security and stability of England?

She created the ‘Middle Way’ - a path between Catholicism and Protestantism

How intelligent was Elizabeth?

Very - she needed to use her brains to survive the reign of her half-sister since they had opposing religious attitudes, so faced execution and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. However, despite this threat to her life, Elizabeth survived. She also spoke 5 languages fluently; English, French, Flemish, Italian and Spanish.