Question

Compare the religious policies of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Why do you think Elizabeth’s policies were more successful?

Answer 1

The Queen Mary placed Catholicism as a sovereign religion in England, other religions were not accepted in her reign which caused many conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth stood out for the support she received from her subjects and to complement the reformist work of her father, Henry VIII, demanding that Anglicanism be retaken with the official religion of England, since its predecessor had Catholicism as the main religion. In addition, she took pragmatic measures trying to assimilate characteristics of Calvinism as well, so as not to divide the kingdom for reasons of belief, establish agreements to avoid possible conflicts and give Catholics a voice in parliament so that there would not be a civil war.