Damian Harvey - Elizabeth I

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Elizabeth Tudor was born in Greenwich, England, on the 7th September 1533. Her father, King Henry VIII, wasnt happy. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was worried. She loved her baby girl but she knew that her husband wanted a son. King Henry needed a male heir to inherit the throne when he died. He grew impatient waiting for his wife to give him a son.

Soon, he started spending more time with her lady-in-waiting, Jane Seymour. Then, before Elizabeth was even three years old, King Henry announced that her mother was guilty of treason. Anne Boleyn was arrested and taken to the Tower of London to be executed. Elizabeth never saw her mother again. A few days later, King Henry married Jane Seymour, his third wife. The following year, on the 12th October, they had a son.

The King was delighted. Elizabeth hardly saw her father until she was nine years old. She often felt lonely but the Kings sixth wife, Catherine Parr, looked after her. The Princess enjoyed spending time with her older stepsister, Mary, and their little stepbrother, Edward, at Hatfield House, near London. Elizabeth spent a lot of time studying. When King Henry died, his son, Edward became King of England. When King Henry died, his son, Edward became King of England.

He was only nine years old. Edward wasnt King for long. He became ill and died when he was just fifteen years old.

It was soon decided that Elizabeths stepsister, Mary Tudor, should become queen as she was the eldest. Many people didnt like Queen Mary. Queen Mary was strongly Catholic like her mother, Catherine of Aragon.

She thought everyone else in England should be Catholic too. Queen Mary punished people who refused to follow the Catholic religion. Some were executed. This made Queen Mary even more unpopular. Some people called her Bloody Mary because she could be very cruel. Elizabeth was a Protestant like her father, Henry VIII.

He had fallen out with the Catholic Church after the Pope refused to let him divorce Catherine of Aragon, his first wife. Lots of people looked to Elizabeth as their only hope and thought she would be a much fairer queen than her stepsister. Some of the people rebelled against Queen Mary and there was a lot of fighting. Marys advisors were worried that Elizabeth might be plotting against her too. When she was only 19 years old, Elizabeth was arrested and locked in the Tower of London. It was cold and damp in the Tower.

Elizabeth was frightened that she was going to be executed just like her mother had been. Then, after a few months, Elizabeth was released from her prison. As she was taken away from the Tower, people cheered in the streets. It was clear that Elizabeth was becoming even more popular. But she still wasnt free. When Elizabeth was 25 years old, Mary became ill and died. When Elizabeth was 25 years old, Mary became ill and died.

Elizabeth was declared Queen of England.

Elizabeth was crowned in Westminster Abbey on the 15th January 1559. Crowds of people lined the streets and cheered as she went by in her carriage. Elizabeth was determined to make England a better place to live, but it wasnt going to be an easy job. The country was sharply divided between Catholics and Protestants. She carefully chose advisors and ministers to help her rule the country.

But it was Elizabeth who had the final word and this didnt always make her advisors happy. Elizabeth was tired of the fighting between Catholics and Protestants. She wanted Britain to be a peaceful place. She strengthened the ties with the Church of England. People could choose their own religion in private so Catholics and Protestants would both be happy. There were lots of other problems that needed sorting out, too.

The towns and cities were crowded with people looking for work and they were becoming dirty, unhealthy places to live. Lots of people begged for money on the streets. Beggars were treated harshly. Elizabeth passed a new Poor Law that meant people had to pay money to help the poor. Elizabeth had lots of friends but never got married. Her ministers thought this would cause problems.

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