English History Context Cards - Eng 4 Hon

When was The Tragedy of Hamlet written?

1600

What period, marked by bloody warfare and devastating plagues, took place before the Renaissance period? What is the Renaissance?

the late Middle Ages; the Renaissance is a period marked by the revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe.

Where and when did the Renaissance begin? When did it reach England?

The Renaissance began in Italy during the 1300s; it didn’t reach England until 1485

What two events occurred in 1485, in England?

The Renaissance reached England and Henry Tudor, the first ruler of the Tudor dynasty, is crowned king of England and become King Henry VII

How did Henry VII make an alliance with Spain?

He married his son, Henry, to Princess Catherine of Aragon

When and how did Martin Luther begin the Protestant reformation? Why?

Martin Luther began the protestant reformation in 1517 by nailing his arguments, the 95 Theses, to a church door. He did this because of the growing dissatisfaction with the Roman Catholic Church, as the Church threatened the power of kings and corruption within the Church was rampant.

By what time was more than half of England’s population literate? What invention that was built during this time helped spread news and new ideas more quickly?

1530, the printing press

Who are the Protestants?

They are Christians who belong to non-Catholic churches, or churches that didn’t accept the authority of the pope

When did King Henry VIII break away from the Roman Catholic Church? Why? What did he replace it with? Who did he marry afterwards?

1534, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church because the pope refused to annul Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon after she didn’t provide him with a male heir. He replaced the Roman Catholic Church with the Church of England.

After he divorced Catherine, he married Anne Boleyn

Who was Mary? Why was she nicknamed “Bloody Mary?” When did she die, and who took her place?

Mary is the first daughter of King Henry VIII, her mother is Catherine of Aragon.
She was nicknamed “Bloody Mary” because of her persecution of the Protestants, as she tried to bring back Roman Catholicism to avenge the divorce of her mother.

She died in 1558, and her sister Elizabeth, took the throne.

Who is Elizabeth I? When did she become queen? Why is she considered the greatest ruler in English history? Who began his writing career while she was ruler? When did she die?

Elizabeth is the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boyle, and Mary’s half-sister. She became queen in 1558. She is considered a great ruler because she kept England out of wars, encouraged exploration, and reestablished the Church of England as a buffer between Catholics and radical Protestants (Puritans). William Shakespeare began writing plays and poems while she was queen. She died in 1603, marking the end of the Tudor Dynasty.

Who were the rulers of the Tudor Dynasty? How many wives did King Henry VIII marry?

The rulers of the Tudor Dynasty were Henry VII, Henry VIII, Mary, and Elizabeth I. King Henry VIII got married to six (6) different wives

When was William Shakespeare born? When did he begin his career as a playwright?

He was born in 1564 and began writing plays and poems in 1590

Who is James Stuart? What is he most notable for overseeing/creating? When did he die, and who succeeded him?

James Stuart, or King James I, was Elizabeth I’s cousin who began ruling after she died. His most notable achievement is overseeing a New English translation of the Bible, the King James Bible. He died in 1625 and his son Charles I became king.

Who is Charles I? What did he do to Parliament in 1629? What did he do afterwards?

King Charles I is the son of James Stuart/King James I. In 1629 he dismissed Parliament for 11 years. After that, he prosecuted Puritans and attempted to force Scotland to adopt the practices of the Church of England.  

What happened when Parliament was reestablished? How did Charles I react? How did this affect England?

When Parliament was reestablished, they stripped Charles I of many of his powers. Charles I responded to Parliament’s actions with military force, causing a civil war to break out.

Who are the two sides fighting in the English Civil War? Who let Parliament/the Puritans? Who lost the war?

The two sides fighting against each other were the Royalists and the Parliament (supported by the Puritan army). Parliament/the Puritans were led by Oliver Cromwell. The Royalists lost the war.

When was King Charles I executed?

He was executed in 1649, after the Royalists lost the English Civil war.

What new political system was established in England following the death of Charles I? Who was leading it?

After Charles I was executed, England became a commonwealth led by Oliver Cromwell.

Why did England’s new Puritan government fail?

The Puritan government/commonwealth failed because they were just as aristocratic as the previous rulers.

Who are the Stuart Kings?

The Stuart Kings are the monarchs who reigned after the Tudor line had ended (after Elizabeth I died). The bloodline consists of James I, Charles I, and Charles II

When did England’s time as a commonwealth end? Why?

England stopped being a commonwealth in 1660 because the Puritan government lost public support. 

Who was put in charge of England after the collapse of the Puritan government? When was the monarchy restored?

The monarchy was restored in 1660, after the Puritan government was disestablished and Charles II (son of Charles I) returned from exile.

What is the name of the period in English history following the reestablishment of the monarchy?

The Reformation

Renaissance ideas took hold in England later than in other parts of the world for what reasons?

internal political conflict prevented Renaissance ideas from taking root