Causes and Consequences of the Elizabethan Settlement

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3.5 Essay

Elizabethan Settlement occurred when the parliament passed the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity. This made the Queen become the Supreme Governor of the Church and the order of worship follow the 1559 Prayer Book. The important causes of the Elizabethan Settlement was foreign pressure, Government pressure for uniformity, and The Church’s finance. Next, the long term consequences are Elizabeth restoring the control of Church wealth and the confusion over doctrine. Finally, the short term consequences is the best of the lesser clergy resigning.

The most important long term and political cause of the Elizabethan Settlement was the Government pressure for uniformity because 1558 was a time of national confusion and division in England over religion. The confusion happen when religion was from Roman Catholic into Protestant a couple of times during the reign of Henry VIII, Edward I and Mary I. Thus Elizabeth I needs to have only one main religion in England that will unify Protestants and Catholics. An example of Government having the pressure for uniformity is when religious changes caused rebellions in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. Hence, the most important cause of the Elizabethan Settlement is the Government pressure for uniformity to avoid foreign wars and rebellions.
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Another vital long term and political cause of the Elizabethan Settlement was the pressure from foreign powers because England was at war with Catholic France. Making England too Protestant could provoke an invasion by the French Army in Scotland. In addition, the Pope could call on the Catholic power in Europe and lead a crusade against England. An example of foreign pressure is when Elizabeth needed to maintain good relations with Netherlands as Antwerp was vital for English textile trade. Hence, the long term cause of the Elizabethan Settlement was foreign pressure because making too Protestant might cause ...

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