GCSE EdExcel History Elizabeth I in England, 1558 – 88

Elizabethan I – easly years including Elizbethan Settlement, Mary – Queen of Scots and The Spanish Armada

Description

This GCSE EdExcel History course on Elizabeth I provides a comprehensive exploration of early Elizabethan England during the foundational years of Elizabeth I’s reign, from 1558 to 1588. This was a critical period that saw the young queen navigate a treacherous landscape of political instability, religious division, and international rivalry. The course aims to move beyond a simple narrative of events, instead inviting learners to analyze the complex web of challenges and decisions that ultimately defined Elizabeth’s rule and laid the groundwork for England’s rise as a global power.

A central theme of the course is the Elizabethan Settlement, Elizabeth’s masterful attempt to forge a religious compromise through the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity. We will delve into the challenges she faced in establishing a moderate Protestant church, examining the threats from both fervent Catholics who sought to restore papal authority and radical Puritans who desired further reform. This section will highlight how religious policy was inextricably linked to domestic and foreign policy, shaping the loyalties of her subjects and the actions of her European rivals.

Another major focus is the political and religious threat posed by Mary, Queen of Scots. We will trace Mary’s journey from her return to Scotland to her flight to England, her long imprisonment, and her role as a figurehead for numerous Catholic plots against Elizabeth’s life. We will analyze significant conspiracies like the Ridolfi and Babington plots, scrutinizing the motivations of the conspirators and the intricate intelligence networks Elizabeth’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, developed to counter them. Her execution in 1587 serves as a powerful case study in the high-stakes politics of the era.

Another major focus is the political and religious threat posed by Mary, Queen of Scots. We will trace Mary’s journey from her return to Scotland to her flight to England, her long imprisonment, and her role as a figurehead for numerous Catholic plots against Elizabeth’s life. We will analyze significant conspiracies like the Ridolfi and Babington plots, scrutinizing the motivations of the conspirators and the intricate intelligence networks Elizabeth’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, developed to counter them. Her execution in 1587 serves as a powerful case study in the high-stakes politics of the era.

By the end of this course, learners will be equipped to analyze Elizabeth I’s strategic genius and understand how her policies in religion, foreign affairs, and domestic governance steered England through its most dangerous years. The course will give learners the tools to interpret primary sources, evaluate historical arguments, and appreciate the lasting legacy of a queen who, against all odds, ushered in a golden age.

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