ESSAY: WHAT WAS ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND LIKE?

Elizabeth was the second child of _Henry VIII AND ANNE BOLEYN

In 1558 the throne passed to Mary ‘s steely and independed-minded half-sister _ELIZABETH THE
Ist . She made a series of thoughtful decisions that would ensure the stability of of her 44_-year reign.

Religion:

Elizabethan England was a time of religious transformation: Elizabeth’s religious policy, known as
the “Elizabethan Religious settlement ” was a compromise between Catholics and Protestants.

This settlement established the Church of England as the official church but retained some Catholic
rituals, striking a delicate balance to maintain Harmony.

Church services were conducted in _English , The book of Common Prayer_ returned, and priests
were allowed to marry. Church decorations such as stained glass were permitted

At first Catholics were not forced to convert to Protestantism. Attendance at Protestant Sunday
services was compulsory , but the punishment for not attending was kept low, a fine of 12 pence

The golden age:

Due to Elizabeths wise decision making, England enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and
stability during her reign.

Art, trade and culture all flourished in England, and this period is sometimes termed the “ The golden
age:_”. Religious plays were banned, and as a result, secular theatre became increasingly popular.

In 1576 London gained its first public theatre called The theater. There were many famous
playwrights of this period, but none more so than William Shakespeare.

During the summer, The Queens favourite noblemen and advisors would host her on her magnificent
royal progress_, where Elizabeth was hosted by members of her royal court across England.

During this time an explorer called Sir Francis Drake_ worked for Elizabeth as a _privateer , raiding
Spanish ships and trade ports in the Americas and returning to England with their cargo. In an epic
journey from 1577 to 1580, he became the first Englishman to _circumnavigate the globe.

The Spanish Armada

During Elizabeth I’s reign Philip II of Spain was the most powerful king in Europe. He was a leading
defender of Catholicism _ in the European Wars of Religion. He had many reasons to dislike England:
Elizabeth gave support to Protestant armies fighting in Europe, and ordered English privateers to
attack and rob Spanish ships.

Philip II, built the largest naval invasion force in Europe, and on the 28 th of May _1588, sent over it
to invade _England_. At the Battle of Gravelines England succeeded, and the Spanish ships had to sail
back home. After this attempt Spain failed and as a consequence the Spanish lost their supremacy as
a naval power in Europe
Rich and poor in Tudor England

By the time theTUdors came to power, some of Englands most powerful and noble families had died
during theThe war of the roses
Fewer noblemen meant ___________________________, Tudor monarchs made sure that the
nobility remained ________________________ for the rest of their reigns: Henry the VII for
instance, made it illegal for noblemen to __________________________________________.
The real ruling class of Tudor England was __________________, they were ___________________.
The division between the landed wealthy and the working poor were as clear as ever. The medieval
______________________ remained in place (only noblemen could wear gold/silver): The wool Cap
Act of 1571 stated that all working people had to wear a _______________________ on Sundays or
holy days.
The rapid growth of the _____________________ meant that there were not enough ___________,
causing mass ____________________. To make matters worse, England’s monasteries which had
cared for the poor _________________________.
As a result, travelling beggars called _________________ became a common in Tudor towns. From
1563 onwards “the _____________________” were passed, requiring parishes to collect taxes from
local population to provide help for the poor.
Wordbank:
Privateer Henry VIII Catholics and Protestants
Common Prayer not forced to Allowed
William Shakespeare.
1576 1588 Church of England wool cap
Sumptuary Laws Battle of Gravelines
Elizabethan religious settlement small and easily managed
War of Roses English Kept low: a fine of 12 pence
44
Compulsory The Theater
Art, trade and culture jobs
Population Circumnavigate the globe
Permitted The gentry
Fewer challenges to the monarchy Philip II
Elizabeth the Ist, noblemen and advisors
Playwrights services
Unnemployment no longer existed.
Harmony Peace and stability
Elizabethan golden age Catolicism
Royal Progresses England
Privateers Tudor
Supremacy landowners without noble titles
Keep private armies poor laws.
Vagrants Francis Drake