The Search for a Monarch

Subject: History
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 7009

The History Portfolio, the acclaimed and popular collection of black and white photocopiable drawings has now been expanded to cover national histories and the roots of European civilisation.

Each pack contains maps, drawings, diagrams and cartoons giving a wealth of information on the period that can be used with a wide range of pupils. Packs come complete with teacher notes which give background information on the events and people depicted on each sheet.

Pack D3 - The Search for a Monarch

The middle years of the 16th century following the death of Henry VIII was a period of confusion and uncertainty. The Tudor succession seemed secure in Henry's only son Edward but his early death without heirs presented the country with the dubious prospect of female rulers. There had been no precedent for this and the problems posed by their falling victim to unscrupulous adventurers or foreign princes caused considerable alarm. The first two female rulers, Queen Jane Grey and Mary I, justified these fears. The third one, Elizabeth I, finally put them to rest.

Confusion was aggravated by the religious problem. Protestant ideas that flooded into the country during the reign of Edward VI, then Mary I restored the Roman Catholic Church. On the accession of Elizabeth, 1558, religious opinion was polarised between fanatic Protestants, hell-bent on extending their 'Reformation', and militant Catholics prepared to re-establish the rule of the Pope by ruthless persecution. Elizabeth's wise, middle of the road religious policy prevented civil war.