British History (1550-1650)

1. British History(1550-1650) By Jessica Bender Info by Grace Bellino and Rachel Jurina

2. British Rulers • After Henry VII died, the English throne traded hands frequently but the two who had an impact on the English people: • His eldest daughter Mary came back from Spain to rule briefly. • Was Catholic and persecuted many Protestants trying to convert them back to Catholicism. • His younger daughter Elizabeth took over a few years later and had a long well remembered rule. • The rule of Queen Elizabeth I: •  Caused problems between England trying to join Scotland and Ireland together • Established the Royal Exchange, a huge successful trading complex. • Handled a conflict/war with Spain • She commissioned a voyage to the Americas and angered the Spanish. • Spain kept attempting and threatening to invade England and the Spanish monarchy sent a whole armada to destroy the English navy, but ended up wrecking their entire fleet in war and on the coasts of Ireland and Scotland.

3. British Rulers con. • Signed a charter with the British East India Company in order to better trade with East Asia and the Indies and thereby boost the economy. • Was a patron of the arts and showed favored to Shakespeare’s plays. • Considered one of the greatest monarchs in English History. • The rule of James I • James the IV of Scotland took the throne at Elizabeth’s death changing his name to James I of England. • He finally put an end to the threat of Spain, signing a treaty with them. • Continued laws that penalized the Catholics in the country causing the Gunpowder plot. • The rule of Charles I • He took over when James I died. • Was angered when parliament condemned him for his religious and political policies and disbanded parliament, ruling on his own. • Scotland was rioting and he was forced to remake a parliament to help raise funds to fight, just as the English Civil War broke out. • Soon after, Charles I surrenders his position and is executed, starting a new age in English History.

4. Important Events • 1551 - Forty-two Articles of religion is published • 1553 - Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queen of England; Restoration of Roman Catholic bishops • 1554 - Execution of Lady Jane Grey • 1555 - England returns to Roman Catholicism: Protestants are persecuted and about 300, including Cranmer, are burned at the stake  • 1558 - Elizabeth I becomes Queen • 1563 - The Thirty-nine Articles, which complete establishment of the Anglican church • 1584 - Conspiracy against Elizabeth I • 1600 - Elizabeth I grants charter to East India Company • 1603 - Elizabeth dies; James I becomes king • 1605 - Gunpowder Plot. • 1618 - Thirty Years' War begins • 1629 - Charles I dissolves Parliament and rules personally until 1640 • 1641 - 30,000 Protestants massacred • 1642 - Civil War • 1646 - Charles I surrenders to the Scots • 1649 - Charles I is tried and executed • 1650 - Charles II lands in Scotland; is proclaimed king.

5. What were people worried about? • The Gunpowder plot: • A plan created by a group of English Catholics to blow up the parliamentary building killing the high lords there. • The plot was discovered before the gunpowder could be blown up and Guy Fawkes, a main conspirator, and many others were executed for treason. • Caused much worry in the people of England because of the strained religious and political atmospheres.

6. Bibliography • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/launch_tl_british.shtml • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/launch_tl_british.shtml