Elizabeth Chapter 1

Question 1

Why was legitimacy a problem for Elizabeth?

Answer 1

• It was not possible for any child to inherit unless they were born in wedlock. Elizabeth’s legitimacy was in doubt as her father had divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in order to marry Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn
• Henry had been denied by the Catholic Church divorce from Catholic of Aragon, leading to the English reformation
• After Henry created the Church of England, he was able to grant himself divorce
• Many Catholics refused to acknowledge his initial divorce as the Pope disagreed to it. Catherine of Aragon was alive when Elizabeth was born, so not everyone accepted that Elizabeth was officially born in Wedlock.
• In 1536, when Anne Boleyn was executed for treason, Henry VIII declared Elizabeth illegitimate and excluded her from the succession; he later reversed this decision

Question 2

Why was Gender a problem for Elizabeth?

Answer 2

• The Christian religion taught that women should be under the authority of men.
• Furthermore, monarchs were still expected to lead their armies into battle.
• Women weren’t considered to be physically, mentally or emotionally capable of governing; it was unusual for women to be in a position of power
• The majority of people through that women were not capable of ruling. This prejudice had not been helped by Mary 1’s reign, as England’s first queen, who persecuted Catholics:
• Mary’s marriage to King Philip II of Spain was so
  unpopular that it had led to a rebellion.
  • Mary burned almost 300 people for their religious beliefs. Although most people were Catholic, like Mary, the burnings had not been popular.

Question 3

Why was marriage a problem for Elizabeth?

Answer 3

• Many thought Elizabeth should marry, however she had no intention of doing so
• She tuned down offers from eligible princes of Europe, including Phillip II of Spain, her brother in law
• The majority of people believed that a woman alone was not capable of ruling. Prejudice has not been helped by Mary first’s reign.
• She was believed to have been incompetent in ruling alone and, as a woman, could not defend the country from international threat.

Question 4

What were the challenges at home and abroad fro Elizabeth?

Answer 4

• Financial weakness
• The French threat
• France and Calais
• France and Scotland
• The religious divide between Catholicism and Protestantism

Question 5

Why did Financial weakness act as a challenge for Elizabeth?

Answer 5

• Elizabeth’s government did not have a lot of money, as England had fought costly wars before she became queen and lots of Crown lands had been sold off to raise money to fight them.
• When she took the throne, the Crown was £300,000 in debt, which was a huge sum in 1558
• Her debt was higher than the monarch’s annual income
• To be strong and defend England, it was important for Elizabeth to be wealthy
• Taxes were unpopular and parliament had agreed to them, increasing Elizabeth’s unpopularity as well as England’s religious divide
• On return, parliament could make demands on Elizabeth, weakening her position and authority

Question 6

What was the French threat and how did it act as a challenge towards Elizabeth?

Answer 6

• France was wealthier and had a larger population. It was also England traditional enemy as it was an ally of England’s other enemy Scotland.
• Their friendship was known as the Auld alliance
• There was an added complication for Elizabeth: the Scottish monarch, Mary Queen of Scots, was her cousin I had a strong claim to the English throne
• She was also half French and married to Francis, heir to the French throne
• She became Queen of France in 1559 when her husband became King Francis II

Question 7

Why did France and Scotland act as a challenge towards Elizabeth?

Answer 7

• Mary Queen of Scots declared herself the legitimate Catholic claimant to the English throne when Mary I died. Mary Queen of Scots was Elizabeth’s second cousin
• Catholics who had not accepted Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn could rally to her claim to England’s monarch
• Scotland was a traditional enemy of England. England’s border with Scotland was remote and hard to defend, which meant it saw constant fighting and raids.
• In 1558, Mary’s mother, Mary of Guise, was ruling Scotland for her daughter and had French
  troops stationed there, highlighting the French and Catholic threat to England as it defended its borders

Question 8

Why did France and Calais act as a challenge towards Elizabeth?

Answer 8

• England had held the French port of Cal since 1347. It was useful as it meant England had an important military base in France and trading post.
• England sided with Spain in the war against France Mary I was married to Spanish king ending with the treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis- which meant that England had to return Calais to France
• One sec the English felt humiliated by this loss and so regaining Callais was an important aim of Elizabeth foreign policy when she becamequeen.
• By regaining Calais Elizabeth could write the mistake of Mary I and reclaim some of the glory enjoyed by past monarch
• England also concerned that France and Spain were no longer at war as they were both Roman Catholic countries.
• divisions between protestant and Catholics were already causing conflict in Europe- there was a real possibility that Catholic Spain and France would unite against England.