Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
The Advantages of Elizabeth I Becoming Queen of England (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
What Could Elizabeth Bring to the Role of Queen of England? - Summary
Elizabeth did not inherit England in a good state in 1558. Issues involving the economy, religion and foreign threats created a challenging environment for Elizabeth. Many people in England believed she was not the legitimate queen of England. Elizabeth managed to overcome these challenges. A significant reason for Elizabeth's success was her character and strengths. She experienced many difficulties in her early childhood. Her father, Henry VIII, had disowned Elizabeth after the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn. Henry VIII's sixth wife Catherine Parr mended Henry's and Elizabeth's relationship. Catherine Parr also taught Elizabeth the essential skills of the royal court. Her intelligence meant she understood how to rule England firmly but fairly. Her charisma and determination persuaded many subjects to support her reign. She developed into a strong ruler who wanted to resolve key issues in the country. |
Elizabeth I - Background
Many people considered Elizabeth's background as a weakness
Her father's marriage to Anne Boleyn was controversial
Many people deemed Elizabeth illegitimate
The execution of her mother caused Henry to remove Elizabeth from the line of succession
Elizabeth's upbringing gave her many strengths as a queen
How Elizabeth's Early Life Made Her a Stronger Queen
Key event | How was this a strength for Elizabeth? |
|---|---|
Henry VIII married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr | Catherine brought Elizabeth back to the royal court. She persuaded Henry to restore Elizabeth's legitimacy in the Act of Succession in 1543 |
Elizabeth became a courtier in the royal court | Elizabeth learnt the dangers of the royal court. She witnessed other courtiers spreading rumours to gain more influence with the monarch. She learnt that, as queen, she needed to control the court |
Mary placed Elizabeth in the Tower of London in 1554. Mary's government accused Elizabeth of plotting against Mary's reign | Elizabeth learnt how unstable her position as queen was. She knew that she needed to react swiftly against plots on her life. The situation also highlighted the need to collect evidence of high treason. Mary's government persuaded Mary to let Elizabeth go. There was no evidence of Elizabeth's involvement in plots |
Exam Tip
Elizabeth was the unlikely Queen of England. The table above shows that Henry never intended for Elizabeth to take the English throne. Henry's third marriage produced a male heir, Edward. Edward succeeded as King of England in 1547. Edward suffered from ill health. He died in power in 1553. Both Edward VI and Mary I did not produce heirs. This improbable situation caused Elizabeth to become queen in 1558. The unlikeliness of her succession may have helped Elizabeth, which could be the focus of an exam question. She developed important royal skills and observed the dangers of being England's monarch.
Elizabeth I - Qualities
Elizabeth had qualities that would make a good queen
Queen Elizabeth I's personality
Elizabeth also possessed some unhelpful characteristics
Elizabeth could lose her temper easily. She shouted at her Privy Councillors on numerous occasions
If a member of her government displeased her, she punished them harshly
Her slow decision-making could become dangerous
Sometimes, Elizabeth did not act with urgency against threats to her reign
She could be hyper-cautious in situations that needed decisiveness
In the conflict with Spain in the Netherlands, her indecision caused her to miss an opportunity to win a crucial victory
Worked Example
Describe one feature of Elizabeth's personality
2 marks
Answers:
One feature of Elizabeth's personality was her intelligence (1). Elizabeth spoke Greek, Latin, French and Italian. This meant that she could speak to leaders and ambassadors across Europe (1).
Exam Tip
Some students are tempted to write more than one feature for this question. This is unnecessary and not an effective use of your time. Focus on the one required feature.
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
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