Page 1: Challenges Facing Elizabeth I

The page details the multiple challenges Elizabeth I encountered upon becoming queen. Elizabeth's legitimacy problem stemmed from Catholic opposition to her parents' marriage, while her gender presented additional obstacles in a patriarchal society.

Highlight: Elizabeth faced three main challenges: legitimacy questions, gender discrimination, and religious tensions.

Definition: Transubstantiation - The Catholic belief that bread and wine literally transform into Christ's body and blood during Holy Communion.

Example: The religious divide between Catholics and Protestants manifested in different worship practices: Catholics used Latin in services and had decorated churches, while Protestants conducted services in English and preferred plain churches.

Vocabulary: Auld Alliance - The traditional alliance between Scotland and France against England.

The economic situation was precarious, with:

• A £300,000 debt inherited from previous rulers
• Widespread poverty and unemployment
• Poor harvests affecting crown income

Foreign relations were complex:

• Spain, ruled by Catholic Philip II, controlled the wealthy Protestant Netherlands
• France remained England's traditional rival
• Scotland, ruled by Mary Queen of Scots, maintained the Auld Alliance with France

Quote: "Elizabeth had been protestant but wanted to create middle ground" - highlighting her approach to religious settlement.

The religious landscape was particularly challenging:

• Previous monarchs (Mary I and Edward VI) had alternated between Catholicism and Protestantism
• Around 300 Protestants were executed under Mary I
• Key differences between Catholic and Protestant practices included church hierarchy, communion beliefs, and worship styles