After Henry’s death the religious struggles went on with an alternation of protestant, with Edward VI, and Catholic Kings with Mary Tudor, called as “Bloody Mary” she persecuted first the Catholics and then the Protestants. When Mary Tudor died she left a country dependent on Spain,  bad governed and without religious unity. 

When Elisabeth came to the throne, her reign lived a period of peace and prosperity. She was a protestant and she re-established the Anglican Church. But she didn’t want to persecute anyone and she was very tolerant. She was a clever and determined woman. Her policy of compromise gave to England a period of peace and increased wealth and commercial power. Elizabeth supported the new explorations thanks to the creation of a powerful fleet. She encouraged the growth of trade. But this created problems with the cattolic Spain. 

Another problem for Elisabeth was her catholic cousin Mary Stuart who was queen of Scothland and when in Scotland there was a protestant revolte Mary had to take refuge in England to her cousin Elisabeth. Here she organized many plots. Elisabeth didn’t want to kill her and imprisoned her for nineteen years but when the last plot was discovered Elisabeth decided to kill Mary. Spain sent its huge fleet called “invincibile Armada”  to attack England but it didn’t arrive in England because it was defeated by the English fleet. After this victory, England became more and more important in Europe.