How Did Elizabeth 1 Influence Religion And Government

“Elizabeth I (1533-1603) was queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. She preserved stability in a nation rent by political and religious dissension and maintained the authority of the crown against the growing pressures of Parliament”(“Elizabeth I”). Queen Elizabeth’s life growing up impacted the many important events during her reign, a reign that was largely influenced by religion and government. Before ruling Queen Elizabeth I had a very prestiges up-bringing. She was born on September 7th, 1533 in Greenwich, England (“Elizabeth I”). Elizabeth grew up in a royal household and got excellent education. She was fluent in Latin, French and Italian (“Elizabeth I”). Elizabeth was raised in a Protestant church which influenced her life

Religion played a very large part in how Queen Elizabeth ruled her country. ”The English Church of Elizabethan times was an institution of ancient traditions but reformed by successive royal programs; Catholic in doctrine, it insisted, but patently Protestant if some of the Thirty-Nine Articles are interpreted strictly; Protestant too in its opposition to the papacy and in many changes made in the liturgy since 1547”(Thompson). Separation from The Church of England was the most logical course, but most people did not realized this until after the church’s long campaign to convert prostestants failed (Thompson). The Church of England was attacked by Catholics and Puritains (“Elizabeth I”). During Elizabeth’s reign, only a few Puritans were not a member of the Church of England (Thompson). Religion influenced how Queen Elizabeth ran her government. There were many changes in the government durring Elizabeth’s reign. One of Elizabeth’s first actions as queen was to appoint Sir William Cecil (Lord Burghley) as her chief secretary (“Elizabeth I”). Elizabeth’s reign symmbolized the glory and independence of England (Harlan). When European literature forms were being adapted to the English language, London because the center of government and commerce as well as “ a place of thriving theatres and a focal point of literary innovations”