FREE ESSAY ON QUEEN ELIZABETH I

QUEEN ELIZABETH I

Were Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great effective rulers? Were their reign's
characterized as good or not so well? Disregarding the opinion of those who reigned
concurrently or historians today, these two ruled their country in a time of turmoil and
uncertainty! The world and the people within it were undergoing a major transition. New
lands were being discovered as well as major role-playing continents and countries were
changing status. Some losing power while others gained it. Queen Elizabeth I and
Catherine the Great ruled their country to the extent in which they were able and their
subjects allowed them to.
Queen Elizabeth I of England was a remarkable ruler. Elizabeth was born in 1533 to Henry
VIII of England and took the throne in 1588 at the age of twenty-five and reigned until
1603 when she passed away (Sowards, 28). Elizabeth was the last of the Tudor Dynasty
(Upshur, 465). Due to her father's uncontrollable hap-hazardous rule, Elizabeth, at only
the age of twenty-five, was already faced with dilemma within England. Henry VIII wanted
a male to take over his throne so when he felt his time was running out, Henry VIII
needed to divorce his Queen at that time but the Catholic Church doesn't allow this. He
separated from the church and brought England with him. He turned England into a
protestant nation. Needless to say people were confused and had to make huge adjustments.
At the beginning of Elizabeth's reign there was confusion. She was a firm Catholic
however she made a compromise between the two religions. Queen Elizabeth's decision was
due largely from the consent of her people (Upshur, 465). However, Elizabeth knew that
two religions would cause problems. As reestablished, the Anglican Church was protestant
in it's Theology, but much of it's ritual and ecclesiastical organization remained
Catholic in form(Upshur, 465). Elizabeth believed that loyalty of her people would bring
them together as well as the country. The people were not forced by the state but by
their own consciences. The people of England saw Queen Elizabeth as compassionate as well
as decisive. By allowing the people to decide, Queen Elizabeth gained their trust and
loyalty unlike her father before her. Queen Elizabeth did not force the people but
allowed them to decide on their own and for their voices to be the deciding factor. In
fact, The greatest achievement in English history, the breaking the bonds of Rome, and
the establishment of spiritual independence, was completed without bloodshed under
Elizabeth's auspices, and Elizabeth may have the glory of the work(Sowards, 37).
The people of England were in no need of a government that was more concerned about it
more than it was for the people. Elizabeth was Queen but she established good ties with
parliament. England did not need the rule of a monarchy that controlled strictly, took
the people's wealth, and taxed. By taxing the people parliament could control the people
(Upshur, 464). However, this was the exact opposite of what Queen Elizabeth did. She was
wealthy, however, she allowed the people of England to have the opportunity to gain
wealth.
Without alienating public opinion, Queen Elizabeth gained what she wanted. Queen
Elizabeth's policies coincided with the interests of the people (Upshur, 465). Queen
Elizabeth was active in foreign policy. The people of England, her subjects, began to see
new materials due to her intervention in foreign policy. Furthermore, they began to
obtain wealth. Elizabeth began trade with India and granted a charter to the English East
India Company (Upshur, 465). This opened the path for trade as well as the ideas for
others to strive to achieve goals, and to set higher standards. This gave some morale to
the people of England. She also established relations with the rulers of Russia and
authorized the formation of the Muscovy company, the first in western Europe to trade
with Russia (Upshur, 465). 
Queen Elizabeth was under the normal stress of any ruler of that time. Or was she? For
thirty years she was perpetually a mark for assassination, and her spirits were never
affected, and she was never frightened into cruelty (Sowards, 36). Elizabeth, opposite of
past rulers, was trying to live down England's reputation as being a nation of war.
Elizabeth negotiated as opposed to initiating war (Sowards, 32). The Elizabethan Age was
peaceful. The people of England may have been used to traditional fighting, however,
Elizabeth kept peace. Queen Elizabeth had a desire for peace. She managed the nation of
England well to sustain a peaceful life while other countries fought wars, lost, and fell
into succession. 
Queen Elizabeth was a peaceful ruler, however, she did engage in on act of warfare. She
is most famous for her dramatic victory over the Spanish Armada during the summer of 1588
(Sowards, 25). English hostility to Spain was growing for a number of reasons: sympathy
for the beleaguered French Huguenots and the peasants of Holland locked in their own
desperate struggle with Phillip; the undeclared sea war with Spain that English
privateers and pirates had already been carrying on for a generation...(Sowards, 26).
There was no ground war and the people of England never became unrested. Queen Elizabeth
was patient and did not jump into war with Spain. She fought on her own terms (Sowards,
38). This was a sign of a smart ruler. 
This led to National importance for England. England 
became supreme on the seas. English commerce increased 
to the Old World and colonies were formed in the New
World(Sowards, 33).
Queen Elizabeth I was liked by her subjects because she was an effective ruler. She
brought effective government to the people through parliament. She opened the opportunity
for trade as well as the opportunity to gain wealth. Queen Elizabeth I also set the
precedent that all nations are not as powerful as they may appear by defeating the
Spanish Armada. This enabled other smaller countries to set sail in the seas to gain
wealth and explore new territory.