Challenges to Elizabeth I's Succession in England (Edexcel GCSE History)

What Issues did Elizabeth Face in England in 1558? - Summary

When Elizabeth became queen in 1558, the two key challenges to the population were money and religion. Both issues stemmed from the reign of Elizabeth's half-sister, Mary I. As a devout Catholic, Mary changed England's religion from Protestantism to Catholicism. England's official religion had changed numerous times since Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII. By 1558, the people of England had experienced three changes of religion in 24 years. This not only had domestic consequences. The fight between Protestantism and Catholicism occurred across Europe. Any decision Elizabeth made about religion would have consequences for England's foreign relations.

Mary's reign also caused England's financial difficulties. Mary married Philip II of Spain. He used English money and resources to fight a costly war with France. Philip belonged to a royal dynasty known as the Habsburgs. He wanted Spain to become the biggest Catholic power in Europe. Spain owned some regions of France. The war intended to give Spain much more control of the country, as well as parts of Italy. It left England's economy in ruins. 

For England to regain its power, Elizabeth had to decide:

• How to resolve the issue of religion for good

• How to recover England's economy

Financial Problems

• In the 16th century, the monarch had responsibility for paying all the costs involved in running the country

• The concept map below shows the multiple ways that the monarch could gain money:

How could a monarch raise money in the 16th century?

• England in 1558 was poor

  • Mary I and Philip II of Spain began a war with France over certain regions of France and Italy

    • Mary sold Crown land to pay for the war 

    • The war did not achieve its aims. It had wider consequences for England's claim on Calais

  • England's economic issues caused rising prices in the 1550s. Owning a lot of land impacted the monarch's ability to use Crown land to raise funds

    • The monarch struggled to use rent from the Crown lands to increase England's finances

  • The Exchequer could become too powerful and mismanage England's money

    • Both Edward VI and Mary I introduced reforms to prevent this from happening

  • By 1558, England had £300,000 of debt

    • In comparison, England's annual income was roughly £287,000

• Elizabeth needed to improve England's finances by:

  • Paying off England's debts to ensure the royal treasury had positive funds

  • Avoiding a costly war with a foreign power

  • Tackling the issue of rising prices

Religious Tensions Within England

• From the beginning of the English Reformation under Henry VIII, England had suffered multiple changes of religion

• The diagram below shows these changes in religion:

Religious changes, 1530 - 1555

• Past Tudor monarchs had experienced rebellions due to religion

  • When Henry dissolved the monasteries in 1536, there was a major rebellion in the north of England

  • Edward VI's strongly Protestant beliefs caused issues. A new English prayer book caused revolts in Cornwall and Devon

  • Mary I's restoration of Catholicism triggered a rebellion by Sir Thomas Wyatt. In retaliation, Mary burnt 300 Protestants to death

• The religious situation in England was critical

  • There were religious divisions across England

  • There was a threat of civil war, supported by foreign countries

  • Elizabeth needed to develop a solution to the religious tensions that would satisfy the majority of England's population