2.1.5

Elizabethan Settlement

Test yourself on Elizabethan Settlement

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Impact of Religious Change During Elizabeth I's Reign

Elizabeth I tried to find a middle ground between Catholicism and radical Protestantism. Inevitably, not everyone would be happy with her settlement.

A compromise

A compromise

  • Elizabeth was trying to find a compromise between Catholicism and radical Protestantism.
  • Through the Act of Supremacy, Elizabeth was the head of the Church.
  • But many aspects of religious worship contained the traditional rituals of the Catholic Church.
Protestant opponents

Protestant opponents

  • Many hardline Protestants were dissatisfied with the Elizabethan settlement and wanted her to pursue further reform.
  • Protestant reformers tried to pressure Elizabeth I.
    • Margaret Aston has analysed a painting called 'Edward VI and the Pope' which used Edward VI's reputation as a strong Protestant to pressure Elizabeth I to further her own reforms.
Catholic opponents

Catholic opponents

  • Almost all the Catholic bishops that were installed by Mary refused to accept Elizabeth's settlement and were dismissed from their positions.
  • Some ministers refused to use the new Prayer Book and continued to use the Catholic Prayer Book.
A successful settlement?

A successful settlement?

  • But the opposition to Elizabeth's settlement was relatively minimal and non-violent.
  • Elizabeth's settlement was also accepted internationally. Arguably, this is because figures such as the Pope and King Philip II believed Elizabeth I could be eventually persuaded back to Catholicism.

The Elizabethan Settlement

To consolidate her power, Elizabeth I had to stabilise England internally. The main priority was to deal with religion.

Causes of the Elizabethan Settlement

Causes of the Elizabethan Settlement

  • The Elizabethan Settlement was a reaction to the religious schism (divisions) in England.
  • England's religion had fluctuated during the reigns of Tudor monarchs.
The Act of Supremacy

The Act of Supremacy

  • The Act of Supremacy was passed in 1559.
  • This act reiterated Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy in 1534, by stating that the Church of England was independent of Rome.
  • Elizabeth I was made the Supreme Governor of the Church.
The Act of Uniformity

The Act of Uniformity

  • The Act of Uniformity was passed in 1559.
  • This act established the Church of England's religious doctrine.
  • Most importantly, the act legitimated the Book of Common Prayer.
  • The Act was very contentious, only passing through Parliament by three votes.
The Book of Common Prayer

The Book of Common Prayer

  • The Book of Common Prayer outlines the Church's liturgy.
  • It set out prayers and services.
  • Although the Book of Common Prayer was Protestant in doctrine, it contained elements of traditional worship. For example:
    • Clergymen could wear vestments (religious robes).
  • This book combined the language from Edward VI's moderate Prayer Book in 1549 and his more radical one in 1552.
39 Articles

39 Articles

  • The 39 Articles were published in 1563 (and would become part of the law in 1571).
  • This stated the Church of England's position in relation to the Catholic Church and radical Protestants.
Evaluation of the Elizabethan Settlement

Evaluation of the Elizabethan Settlement

  • Elizabeth was trying to find a compromise between Catholicism and radical Protestantism.
  • Through the Act of Supremacy, Elizabeth was the head of the Church.
  • But many aspects of religious worship contained the traditional rituals of the Catholic Church.
  • Elizabeth's religious settlement was divisive and many hardline Protestants were disappointed.
Jump to other topics
1

Monarch & Government

1.1

Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII1.1.2Henry VIII1.1.3Edward VI1.1.4Mary I1.1.5Elizabeth I1.1.6Succession Disputes
1.2

Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation
1.3

Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown
2

Religious Changes

2.1

Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement
2.2

Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I2.2.4Catholic Nobility
2.3

Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I
3

State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1

Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils3.1.2Role of Nobility3.1.3Justices of the Peace3.1.4Lord Lieutenant
3.2

The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty3.2.2Punishments for Paupers3.2.3Role of Charities
3.3

Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance
4

Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1

Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth4.1.2Exploration & Trade
4.2

Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries4.2.3Enclosure
4.3

Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature4.3.2Impact of Religious Change4.3.3Patronage4.3.4The Arts4.3.5Cult of Gloriana
5

Historical Interpretations

5.1

Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain5.1.2The Spanish Armada5.1.3Ireland
5.2

Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions5.2.2Essex's Rebellion
5.3

Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament
5.4

Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

Practice questions on Elizabethan Settlement

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What was Elizabeth I trying to find between Catholicism and radical Protestantism?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What was opposition to the Elizabethan settlement at home?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Features of the Act of Uniformity:Fill in the list
  4. 4
    What was the Book of Common Prayer?True / false
  5. 5
    What did the 39 Articles of 1563 state?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Elizabethan Settlement

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Religious Change Under Mary I

Popular Attitudes to Catholicism