Question 1

Why did Elizabeth I never marry and have an heir?

Accepted Answer

Elizabeth likely remained unmarried to maintain her political independence and avoid the problems her sister, Mary I, faced by marrying Philip II of Spain. By staying single, she could use the possibility of marriage as a diplomatic 'carrot' to keep foreign powers like France and Spain from attacking. Additionally, any husband would have expected to take political control, which Elizabeth was unwilling to relinquish.

Question 2

What was the 1559 Religious Settlement?

Accepted Answer

The Religious Settlement was a collection of laws designed to end the religious instability in England. It consisted of the Act of Supremacy, which made Elizabeth 'Supreme Governor' of the Church, and the Act of Uniformity, which established a set form of worship and the use of the English Prayer Book. It was a 'Middle Way' intended to be moderate enough for most Catholics to accept while establishing England as a Protestant nation.

Question 3

Why was Mary, Queen of Scots such a threat to Elizabeth?

Accepted Answer

Mary was Elizabeth's cousin and, in the eyes of many Catholics, the legitimate heir to the English throne because they did not recognize Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn. As a Catholic, she became a focal point for rebellions and foreign plots supported by Spain and the Pope. Her presence in England for 19 years acted as a constant catalyst for internal dissent until her execution in 1587.

Question 4

What caused the increase in poverty during the Elizabethan era?

Accepted Answer

Poverty rose due to several factors: a rapidly growing population (from 3 million to 4 million), which led to food shortages; 'enclosure', where landlords fenced off common land for sheep farming, leaving laborers unemployed; and high inflation caused by debased coinage and bad harvests in the 1590s. The closure of the monasteries by Henry VIII also meant the traditional 'safety net' for the poor had vanished.

Question 5

How did the English actually defeat the Spanish Armada?

Accepted Answer

The defeat was caused by a combination of English tactics, Spanish errors, and bad weather. The English used 'fire ships' at Calais to break the Spanish crescent formation and had faster, more maneuverable ships with long-range 'culverin' cannons. The Spanish leader, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, was inexperienced at sea, and the 'Protestant Wind' eventually blew the remaining Spanish ships into the North Sea, forcing a disastrous journey around Scotland and Ireland.

Question 6

Was the Elizabethan era really a 'Golden Age'?

Accepted Answer

For the wealthy gentry and nobility, it was a Golden Age of luxury, education, and 'prodigy houses'. Culturally, it saw the peak of English drama and music. However, for the bottom 30% of the population, it was an age of subsistence, where harvest failure meant starvation. Historians often see the 'Golden Age' as a successful piece of government branding used to distract from the very real social and economic tensions of the time.

The Elizabethan Age, 1558-1603

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