The Reign of Elizabeth I 02

This KS3 History quiz challenges you further on the reign of Elizabeth I. During the last years of her reign, Elizabeth faced some difficult times. There were several plots against her life as younger courtiers and Catholic sympathisers attempted to seize power. She became more and more anti-Catholic as her reign went on, her middle way had failed and she had many prominent Catholics executed. This was very low-key compared with what was happening over the other side of the English Channel as there were brutal conflicts between the two religions throughout Europe.

Other rulers and key political figures in Europe were surprised at how England developed under Elizabeth. Queens were not generally regarded as being as strong rulers as Kings. She remained single, historians suggest that this was to ensure that the nobles remained loyal and would not rebel in the hope that they could marry her. She had a dark side and had a network of spies to uncover plots and keep her safe. By the end of her reign, the Church of England was safe and there was no chance of a war of religion. When she died, James VI of Scotland inherited the throne peacefully and England had its first overseas colony in America.