Potential questions with answers for the 12 mark 'Explain why' question in the GCSE Elizabeth Paper. Includes in-depth responses to each question, along with a link to flashcards at the end of the document that can be used in conjunction with the questions. Highly useful for revision and preparatio...
GCSE Edexcel History- Early Elizabethan England (1558-88)
‘Explain why...’ potential questions and indicative content (12 marks)
Questions that have ALREADY COME UP!
- Explain why the Throckmorton Plot was a threat to Queen Elizabeth
- Explain why Raleigh’s first colony in Virginia failed
- Explain why the Puritans challenged Elizabeth’s religious settlement
- Explain why Elizabeth faced challenges to her rule in 1558
- Explain why the treatment of the poor changed in the period 1558-88
- Explain why Mary, Queen of Scots was executed
Potential questions that could come up with indicative content
Explain why Catholics challenged the Religious Settlement
- Omission of Latin Mass
Mass was extremely important to Catholics
They believed a miracle took place during Mass where the bread and wine turn
into the body and blood of Christ
Elizabeth rid of Mass, and instead implemented Holy Communion
The omission of Latin Mass was unacceptable to most Catholics- it compromised
their chances of going to heaven
Many Catholics practised Mass in secret
- Changes to services
Services were now in English, rather than Latin
Bible and Prayer Book were also in English
Challenged by some Catholics, they believed that services should remain in Latin
Recusants deemed Elizabeth a ‘heretic’ and the ‘bastard daughter’ of Anne
Boleyn
These recusants were not prepared to compromise with Elizabeth’s Religious
Settlement
Opposed the conduct of the new services, so refused to attend
- The Act of Supremacy
Act of Supremacy had made Elizabeth Head of the Church, yet she accepted the
title ‘Supreme Governor’ in order to appeal to Catholics so they could still
recognise the Pope as Head of the Church
Although this satisfied most, some Catholics deemed Elizabeth’s role
unacceptable
They believed that no monarch should be the head, instead, the Pope should
clearly be highlighted as the Head of the Church, and the Church should be
organised with cardinals, archbishops, and bishops
, Explain why Mary, Queen of Scots, created a problem for Elizabeth when she
came to England in 1568
- Religion and claim to the throne
Perhaps the most important reason why MQS was a problem was that she was a
Catholic
In the eyes of Catholics in England, Mary was the rightful Queen
This was because the Pope had never annulled the marriage between Anne
Boleyn and Henry VIII, so therefore, Elizabeth was illegitimate (in Catholic
opinion)
This meant that Catholics believed Mary was the rightful Queen as she was
legitimate and next in line
Furthermore, the fact MQS was Catholic created tension between the cousins
- Links with France
Mary had strong links with France
When she was a girl, she married Francis II of France, meaning there were now
very strong ties between France and Scotland
This posed a threat to Elizabeth as France and England were natural enemies
Furthermore, France had taken an interest in the English Crown: Catholics in
France believed that Mary was the rightful Queen and that she should replace
Elizabeth
This meant the threat of invasion from France was extremely strong, despite the
Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis set forth to make peace with France after the wars
- Mary’s marriages
Mary had married three times
During her second marriage, with Lord Darnley, she had a son- James
This meant that, if Mary was Queen, there would be no power vacuum upon her
death as she had a clear heir
Elizabeth refused to marry and did NOT have children, therefore creating
tensions about who would fill the void once she dies
Lord Darnley also had a distant claim to the English throne, so this strengthened
Mary’s position further
Explain why the Northern Rebellion took place in 1569
- Political grievances
The Earls had been excluded from Elizabeth’s Privy Council, so they felt side-lined
They resented new faces in Elizabeth’s council, such as William Cecil- there was
an ounce of jealousy when they were not appointed to serve under the Queen
The nobles called them ‘evil councillors’
Elizabeth had also weakened their power in the North
The Earl of Westmorland had lost his position of Warden of the Middle March,
defending the border against Scotland- he was keen to act against Elizabeth
Furthermore, Elizabeth had seized land from these nobles- Earl of Westmorland
had lost copper mines, which had cost him money
Many Northern Nobles were facing financial hardship due to the seizure of lands
Motivated them to act against the Queen
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