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Queen Elizabeth I Research Paper

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Queen Elizabeth I of England Imagine it’s 1603, in early April. The queen has just died, and she has left no heir. It is eventually decided that King James VI of Scotland will rule England next. Elizabeth was a strong, courageous leader; she was precocious, learned in many languages. She brought stability to her kingdom. However, she also grew from a troubled childhood. Who was this strong queen who managed to leave no heir? Elizabeth I’s father, King Henry VIII, wanted a male heir more than anything. So when his wife, Catherine of Aragon, failed to provide him with one, he broke away from the Catholic Church to annul their marriage in 1534. He proceeded to marry Ann Boleyn, a lady-in-waiting, and Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1533. …show more content…

She was bright and intelligent, studying, architecture, astronomy, history, mathematics, and geometry. She was a classical scholar, having learned Greek and Latin. She also knew many modern languages of her day, including French, Italian, Flemish, and Welsh. She would respond to foreign messengers in their own tongue, when she was queen, working out transactions by herself. She was a Protestant, like her father, holding “unquestioning belief in the Christian faith, which was universal in Europe, but her mind was incapable of religious fanaticism” (Jenkins 19). She managed to bring England under firm Protestant …show more content…

In 1588, she defeated Philip II’s Armada from Spain. Philip wanted to restore a Catholic monarch on the English throne. She fought against a Spanish world empire, helping the Dutch gain independence in the process. She built up her military and navy, so he ships were strong and efficient, easily able to defeat the big, slow Spanish ships. She supported Walter Raleigh’s efforts to create a colony, named Virginia after her. “She turned her single state to diplomatic advantage,” (Lehmberg).She also backed Francis Drake and his circumnavigation of the globe, as well as Martin Forbisher’s journey’s to Canada. She was interested in trade with the Far East, and while she never did find a route, she did manage to trade with the Russian tsar, Ivan the Terrible. Because she was a woman, she couldn’t take place in any administrative affairs, however, she was the ultimate source of authority, and she personally received envoys. She had unfailing courage while putting down rebellions in her own country; she stood tall and firm, calmly taking action. Elizabeth also restored the use of currency, creating long-term economic stability in

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