What foreign threats did Elizabeth I face in 1558?
Learning objective – to be able to assess the extent of foreign threats Elizabeth I faced in 1558. I can describe the key foreign threats faced by Elizabeth I Grade 3 I can explain the key foreign threats faced by Elizabeth I. Grade 6 I can explain and assess the foreign threats faced by Elizabeth I Grade 9
What was the position of England’s major European rivals in 1558? France In 1558, France was at war with both England and Spain. Mary, Queen of Scots was married to the Dauphin and as a Catholic country, many in France felt Mary should be queen of England. Scotland Scotland was an independent country with a monarch – Mary, Queen of Scots, who was Elizabeth’s closest relative. Scotland and France has a close alliance and French soldiers were posted in Scotland, ready to invade England from the north. Spain Spain was the most powerful European nation and devoutly Catholic. Despite this, England and Spain had good relations throughout most of the Tudor period up to 1558 and King Philip II of Spain had married Mary Tudor.
What was Mary’s foreign policy legacy? Mary was married to Philip of Spain, who would become the Spanish king. The marriage was an unhappy and unpopular one and left the English closely allied to the Spanish. Because of this alliance with the Spanish, England went to war with their mutual rival, France. The war with France went badly for the English. In 1558, England lost its last possession in France – Calais. Calais was a major trading port and had been in English control since 1347. A major humiliation that Mary’s reputation never fully recovered from.
What was Mary’s financial legacy? The 1540s and the 1550s were turbulent times for the English economy. In the 1540s, English currency was debased which meant English coin was worth less compared with European coin. This meant prices went up. The war with France hit the economy hard. Mary left England with a debt of £300,000 and the war was still continuing. In context, the annual income for the Crown was £286,667. Because of rising prices, fixed rents and an empty coffer, Elizabeth had to cut spending straight into her reign. This meant greater efficiencies in collecting debts and taxes and the potential for calling for more taxation.
Should Elizabeth I continue the war with France? Arguments for A military victory over the French would be very popular. Calais might be regained which would restore English pride. Victory would end the danger of invasion from France and Scotland. Making peace with France could make Elizabeth look weak. Arguments against England was only at war with France because Mary wanted to support her husband. Elizabeth and her councillors did not want to continue the war. England did not have the resources to win. England could not afford to continue to send men. Defeat would get the reign off to a disastrous start. By the end of 1558, France and Spain were no longer at war.
How did Elizabeth I deal with the war with France? Elizabeth made a swift decision – in January, 1559, three months into her reign, she signed the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis – a peace treaty with Spain. This meant that Calais was lost forever but also the fear of invasion remained. This fear increased when Elizabeth decided to have a Protestant church as this made it a possibility for a European crusade to invade England and restore Catholicism. Tensions increased when Spain and France formed a Catholic alliance and Elizabeth rejected Philip II of Spain’s marriage proposal. Elizabeth took out loans to buy arms and restocking the nation’s armouries in case of an invasion.
Task Copy the continuum below and place each foreign policy challenge where you think it fits on it. Write a short paragraph on each foreign policy challenge, explaining your decision and how effectively Elizabeth dealt with the problem in 1558-9. Issue did not pose a security threat to England and Elizabeth I. Issue that could at some time cause a security threat to England. Issue immediately caused a direct threat to England’s security. War with France Mary, Queen of Scots as heir to the English throne England is bankrupt French and Scottish forces on England’s borders. Philip II of Spain’s marriage proposal England is underarmed
Bankrupt Elizabeth I Extension Task Complete this hexagon framework by adding words in the blank hexagons which can link with the words in the adjacent hexagons. Explain the links made between the hexagons. Bankrupt Elizabeth I Spain
Plenary – My Brain Subheading – My Brain Draw an outline of your brain. Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson. This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists – anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others can understand it.