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SCarrara_Argomentative text: the strength of Elisabeth I's policy
by - (2014-10-22)
Up to 4ALS - Structure of literary Workshop.
Elisabeth I ascended the throne after Mary I 's death, in 1558.
Right away she had to face three problems; first of all her illegitim succession:she was Anne Bolene's daughter, the second Henry VIII's wife. To Catholic vision, she wasn't Henry VIII's heir because she was born in a marriage that wasn't recognised by the Church. It was one of the reasons why Elisabeth I relied to Protestantism.
Another problem was the religious division between Protestants and Catholics: the previous queen(Bloody Mary) burned Protestants, but Elisabeth I decided to restore the country firmly to Protestantism but she granted Catholics freedom of worship. This choice created a lot of consens between the protestants and the catholics.
Last but not least problem was the marriage: she didn't get married . So a lot of European princes were encouraged to ask to her hand. It allowed to keep on good terms with all Europe.
To obtain acceptance to people she often repeated she was 'the Queen was married to her people' ,so seems she also rappresented the people's voice; it is confirmed by early years's potraits: she was painted very simply (with some majesty's simbols), making she looked like any other waelthy Elisabethan woman.
Her growing success, with the Renaissance style, contributed to change the way the queen was printed(and the way the queen was considered by people) : potraits were full of symbolisms and inspired literature,music,drama and poetry. Indeed she received an excellent education, she could speak France,Latin(language of science) and Italian; so she could maintain good relationships with whole Europe.
Another important point which allowed her to have a lot of consensus and success in England was her foreign policy: she connoted Spain as her main trade rival and enemy,but she avoided open war(even if the queen encouraged captains,like Francis Drake in their piracy against Spain ship.
In addition Elisabeth expanded merchant fleets, making England a commercial and sea power.
So in 1588,Spain declared war on England to stop piracy against Spain, to depose Elisabeth (viewed as a Protestant heretic) and to subjugate people to Spanish role and converted them to Catholicism.
On the night of 7th August, the Invincible Armada (Spanish fleet) was defeat, confering to England the supremacy of seas. Elisabeth founded seven companies to colonise in the name of trade, and it lain the basis of England's empire.