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).