What is this topic about?

This topic looks at the problems Elizabeth faced when she became queen in 1558, including worries about England’s safety and pressure on her to marry. It also explains how her 1559 Religious Settlement tried to bring calm, and how both Catholics and Puritans reacted to her choices. The section ends with the growing issue of Mary, Queen of Scots, whose claim to the throne made Elizabeth’s job harder.

Do I need to know anything before we start?

You will need to understand some of the background to Elizabeth’s reign including the Protestant Reformation and the relationship between Henry VIII and Elizabeth’s mother Anne Boleyn.