How did Elizabeth establish her government and settle religion after 1558?
Elizabeth's situation on her accession in 1558, the structure of Elizabethan government (court, Privy Council, Parliament and local government), the problems she inherited, and the Religious Settlement of 1559 with the challenges to it.
A focused answer to Key Topic 1 of Edexcel's Early Elizabethan England depth study, covering Elizabeth's situation in 1558, the structure of her government (court, Privy Council and Parliament), the problems she inherited, and the Religious Settlement of 1559 with the Puritan and Catholic challenges to it.
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What this dot point is asking
This is Key Topic 1 of the Elizabethan depth study: how Elizabeth secured her throne and settled the dangerous question of religion. You need her situation in 1558, the structure of her government, the problems she inherited, and the Religious Settlement of 1559 with the challenges to it. The British depth study is examined by Describe two features, Explain why and a 16-mark essay, so secure facts and clear explanation both matter.
Elizabeth's situation in 1558
The structure of government
The Religious Settlement of 1559
Challenges to the Settlement
Try this
Q1. What did the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity each do? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. The Act of Supremacy made Elizabeth Supreme Governor of the Church; the Act of Uniformity set a single Protestant form of worship with fines for non-attendance.
Q2. Explain why the Religious Settlement was designed as a compromise. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Elizabeth wanted stability and to avoid religious bloodshed, so she built a middle way that kept the Church Protestant but used the softer title Supreme Governor, some traditional appearances and low fines to avoid provoking Catholics into rebellion.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 20184 marksDescribe two features of the Religious Settlement of 1559.Show worked answer →
The Paper 2 British depth study "Describe two features" question (4 marks). Reward two distinct features with detail, no explanation.
Feature one. The Act of Supremacy made Elizabeth Supreme Governor of the Church of England, breaking again with the Pope and giving her control of the Church, while the title "Governor" rather than "Head" was chosen to be acceptable to Catholics.
Feature two. The Act of Uniformity set out a single form of worship: one Book of Common Prayer and set church appearances and services, with fines for those who did not attend (recusants), creating an outwardly Protestant Church with some compromises.
Full marks. Two features, each with one supporting detail. Two marks per feature.
Edexcel 201912 marksExplain why the Religious Settlement of 1559 was a compromise. You may use the following in your answer: the Act of Uniformity; the Pope. You must also use information of your own.Show worked answer →
The Paper 2 British depth study "Explain why" question (12 marks) with two prompts plus your own knowledge. Reward at least three developed reasons.
Reason one (the Act of Uniformity). It set Protestant worship but allowed some ambiguity (for example over the meaning of communion) and kept some traditional church appearances, so it could satisfy moderates on both sides.
Reason two (avoiding provoking Catholics). Elizabeth took the title Supreme Governor rather than Head of the Church, and fines for non-attendance were at first small, to avoid pushing Catholics into rebellion.
Reason three (own knowledge: Elizabeth's aims). Elizabeth wanted stability and to avoid the religious bloodshed of her sister Mary's reign, so she deliberately built a "middle way" that most people could accept.
Top band. Use both prompts plus an own point, each developed and tied to why it was a compromise.
Related dot points
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Sources & how we know this
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History (1HI0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2016)