GCSE History: Elizabethan England Revision Guide

The religious settlement

When Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, England was divided between Catholics and Protestants. Her religious settlement of 1559 aimed for compromise, establishing a Protestant Church of England but keeping some traditional features to avoid alienating Catholics.

Challenges to Elizabeth's rule

Elizabeth faced plots against her throne, often linked to her Catholic cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who was eventually executed in 1587 after being implicated in conspiracies against Elizabeth.

The Spanish Armada

In 1588, Spain sent a huge fleet, the Armada, to invade England, partly for religious reasons and partly due to ongoing conflict over trade and the Netherlands. English ships and bad weather combined to defeat the Armada, becoming a defining moment of Elizabeth's reign.

Exploration and society

This period saw increased exploration, with figures like Sir Francis Drake circumnavigating the globe. Society in Elizabethan England remained highly structured, with concern over poverty leading to Poor Laws to manage the growing number of vagrants.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the religious settlement pleased everyone — it was a compromise that still faced opposition from both strict Catholics and strict Protestants.
• Confusing Mary, Queen of Scots with Mary I (Elizabeth's half-sister and predecessor).
• Attributing the Armada's defeat only to the weather, ignoring English naval tactics.