Elizabeth I faced several challenges as Queen of England, including being a female ruler in a time when women did not typically hold such power. She also had to navigate tensions between Catholics and Protestants after the religious changes under her siblings. Additionally, Mary Queen of Scots posed a threat to Elizabeth's rule as Mary had a claim to the English throne. Elizabeth overcame these problems through carefully cultivating her public image, presenting herself as a powerful monarch. She also pursued a moderate religious policy to avoid alienating either Catholics or more radical Protestants. However, Mary Queen of Scots continued to challenge Elizabeth through plots against her, ultimately leading to Mary's execution for treason.

1. Elizabeth I, Tudor
ESO2
HISTORY
Language Skills and
Culture

2. In this lesson we are going to examine:
What problems do
you think Elizabeth
might have faced as
Queen of England?

3. What problems do you think Elizabeth
might have faced as Queen of England?

4. All new monarchs face problems, but I
had a particularly challenging time.
Remember that I am
*female
*young (only 25)
* unmarried
* Protestant
* the daughter of Anne Boleyn

5. • I think the biggest problem that
Elizabeth would have faced as Queen
was that...
• This is a problem because...

6. Elizabeth and Religion
• When Mary was Queen of England, she
had people burned for refusing to
become Catholics. Elizabeth had to
find a way to make peace between the
two churches.
Mary and
religion

7. Three different sets of beliefs

8. Elizabeth’s dilemma
• She wants England to remain
Protestant, but doesn’t want to make
enemies of the Catholics.
• She also has to face a new church, the
Puritans, who argued that she wasn’t
Protestant enough!

9. What did the Puritans believe?
Our interpretation of the Bible stressed
that the only way in to Heaven was to
pray hard, and work harder!
We thought that Sunday should only be for
praying and church, that our clothes should
be plain and cover us up.
We believed that feasting should be
replaced with fasting.
We thought that even the Protestant church
still was too ‘catholic’ and that there were
too many things being celebrated which
weren’t Christian at all.

10. In this lesson we are going to examine:
How did Elizabeth
overcome the
problems of being a
female ruler?

11. Elizabeth’s image
• Queen Elizabeth knew how to
use her image as propaganda.
This meant she could show
herself to be a powerful rule
through speeches and
portraits

12. These two pictures are from
modern films about Elizabeth.
They are based on contemporary
accounts of Elizabeth’s ‘Tilbury
Speech’ before the Spanish
Armada attacked England
1.What is Elizabeth wearing?
2.Why do you think she chose
to wear this kind of outfit?

13. This film clip is a dramatised
account of Elizabeth’s famous
‘Tilbury Speech’.
The words of the speech were
written down at the time by, so
it is a primary source; these
are Elizabeth’s actual words.
You have a copy of the speech
to read
I am come amongst you, as you see, at
this time, not for my recreation and
disport, but being resolved, in the midst
and heat of the battle, to live and die
amongst you all; to lay down for my God,
and for my kingdom, and my people, my
honour and my blood, even in the dust. I
know I have the body but of a weak and
feeble woman; but I have the heart and
stomach of a king, and of a king of
England too, and think foul scorn that
Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe,
should dare to invade the borders of my
realm; to which rather than any dishonour
shall grow by me, I myself will take up
arms, I myself will be your general, judge,
and rewarder of every one of your virtues
in the field.

14. Elizabeth’s image
• Elizabeth knew that her image was
very important.
• She could use it as propaganda, to
spread the tales of her power, wealth
and strength.
• Although this is a film clip, it shows you
one view of how striking her image
became.

15. Symbolism
• Symbols were used in
portraits to tell the person
looking at it all about the
person in the picture.

16. On your own copy of this portrait, you
need to find the following symbols;

17. Eyes and ears
These show that
Elizabeth hears and
sees everything and so
knows what is
happening in her
country,

18. Rainbow
This shows Elizabeth
brings peace after
stormy times.

19. Flowers and Pearls
These are signs of
youth and chastity (ie
she is pure not
married).

20. The Jewelled globe
This means Elizabeth is
wise in both affairs of
the heart and mind.

21. Jewelled Glove
This shows that men
are prepared to throw
down the gauntlet for
Elizabeth. They will
fight a duel for her
honour.

22. Bridal hair
This is a sign of
Elizabeth’s youth and
virginity.

23. Huge head dress
This is to show that
Elizabeth will always
bring food to her
people. It supports her
royal crown.

24. The serpent and heart
The serpent is a sign of
wisdom.
The heart is a symbol that
Elizabeth loves and possesses
her people.
Together they show that
Elizabeth has the wisdom to
control her heart.

25. Angel’s wings
These show that
Elizabeth has heavenly
knowledge. She has
been given her power
by God.

26. Your portrait of Elizabeth
• You each have a template of Elizabeth.
• Your task is to create an image of
Elizabeth which conveys all of her
characteristics
– Strength - married to her country
– Power - purity
– Wealth
– intelligences

27. Remember to
add in symbols
which show
Elizabeth’s
personality
and power.

28. virginity
Royal symbol
peace love youth
Royal coronation
symbol
clever
Royal Tudor rose
Royal symbol
Heavenly advice
peace
Chastity and youth
youth
Ruling the world
Men will fight for her
honour
Important business
Drives away bad
times
Royal symbol
Sees all and hears all
wisdom
You should use some of these
symbols

30. My portrait
In my portrait I have included
(symbol) because it shows that
Elizabeth was…
I have also
included…..because….
Another symbol in my portrait
is….this shows that Elizabeth….
I have used the
colour…..because…..

31. In this lesson we are going to examine:
Why was Mary, Queen
of Scots a threat to
Elizabeth?
Overview

32. Why was Mary, Queen of Scots, a threat
to Elizabeth?
Mary Stuart had been Queen of
France while her first husband
was alive. She was also Queen
of Scotland. She also had a
claim to the English throne.

34. I became Queen of Scotland at
only a few days old, when my
father died.
Even as a child I faced huge
problems;
I had been betrothed (engaged)
to Prince Edward, the son of
Henry VIII
This betrothal was broken off, and I
was married to the Dauphin of
France at the age of five.
This made me Queen of France.
When my first husband (Francis)
died, I returned to Scotland.
Unfortunately, female rulers were
not popular, most of Scotland was
Protestant and I was Catholic, AND
Scotland had been managing quite
well without me!
My second husband was Lord
Darnley. He was handsome,
charming, drunken and a gambler. I
refused to make him King, and this
really soured our relationship. All
this before I was twenty years old!

36. I am John Knox, and I am unofficial leader of the
Protestant Church in Scotland. We call the church the
‘kirk’ in Scottish.
There is only one thing I hate more than having a Queen,
and that is having a Catholic Queen!

37. Can you imagine being a widow and a
queen at the age of 17? I was unpopular
and unhappy. I married my second cousin,
Henry Darnley as he was handsome, and
also a Tudor AND a Stuart. This was a BIG
mistake!
I also think that I should be Queen of England
as I am a Catholic and have a very good claim
to the throne. I get myself mixed up in several
plots against Queen Elizabeth. She finds out
about all of them!

38. As the Queen’s husband, I expected to be
made king, but this never happened.
When Mary became pregnant, I was
totally left out of things. I was really
unpopular and a bit of a waste of space.
My death was a bit of a mystery. My house
was blown up, but I was found dead in the
garden, having been strangled. Some
people said that Mary and her ‘lover’ Earl
of Bothwell were involved.
I was really jealous of Mary’s advisor,
David Rizzio. I thought they were too
close. So I got my friend’s to murder him.
Right in front of Mary. I was NOT clever.

39. Unfortunately for Mary, this
was merely the start of her
problems. She has to face
childbirth, witnessing a
vicious murder, another
marriage, fleeing to a hostile
foreign country, losing
custody of her baby and two
decades in prison

40. Elizabeth’s dilemma
My dilemma is, how far
should I help Mary? She
is after all my cousin, a
monarch, and also a
female ruler.

41. What problems did Mary pose for Elizabeth,
and were they serious enough for Elizabeth
to consider having to execute her?

43. Should Mary be executed?
Execute Mary Don’t execute Mary

44. My conclusion.
• I think that Mary was a real threat to
Elizabeth because…
• (75 words !)
• (use the piece of work you’ve just done
to help you write your conclusion, but
don’t just copy out the columns)

46. • I think Mary was a real threat to
Elizabeth because if she was allowed
to go on writing letters to foreign
rulers….
• (you must use at least THREE of the
reasons from the execute column)

47. In this lesson we are going to:
Evaluate the evidence
to help us decide how
successful Queen
Elizabeth I’s reign was.

48. How successful was Elizabeth’s reign?
• Elizabeth I had to face many problems
when she became queen. How
successfully did she solve them?

49. A successful monarch will leave their country
several things when they die;
1. An heir to the throne. Preferably male.
2. At peace with itself, so no fighting
amongst different groups of English
people.
3. At peace with other countries, so no
ongoing problems with France, or
Spain.
4. Safe and secure – there should be no
doubt who the rightful heir is.
5. The country should look back fondly on
you as a great and successful monarch!

50. Problem What did Elizabeth do? How successfully
did she solve this
problem 1-10
Being a female
ruler
Marrying and
providing an heir
Having Spain as an
enemy
Mary, Queen of
Scots plotting to
take throne
Religion

51. Conclusion
• In your conclusion, you will use
evidence to say why you gave
Elizabeth that mark out of 50.
• You will explain WHAT Elizabeth did,
and then HOW this made her
successful (or unsuccessful!)

52. My conclusion
• Overall, I gave Elizabeth I x out of 50. I
think she was not/quite/very
successful as a monarch.
• This is because…

53. • This is because now write WHAT
Elizabeth did. This made her
not/quite/very successful because now
explain why you think this.
• She also…
• And furthermore…

54. Why is it, after an
incredibly long and fairly
successful reign, I was
the last Tudor monarch?
Which family would take
over, and what was their
connection with me?

55. Links to resources for teachers