To what extent was Protestantism accepted by the English population during Elizabeth I's Reign?

By 1558 Elizabeth was the queen of England, a country previously ruled as a Catholic state. There is agreement amongst historians that Protestantism was accepted by a majority of the population by the time of Elizabeths death. however one of the key arguments that occurred between A.G dickens for example and to a greater extent recent historians involves the support for universality that existed when Elizabeth ascended to the throne. Dickens believed that the threat from Catholicism was already limited due to its restricted numbers; he states that a introduction for protestant support already existed which Elizabeth construct her new church upon. Whereas MacCulloch for example believes that a significant base of Protestants was non-existent .He also believes that the Catholics were more of a threat than Dickens and that they feature the power to Overturn Protestantism as the religion of England.

All historians agree that on that point was at least some Protestantism at the start of Elizabeths reign. A key disagreement between new and old historians occurs everywhere the issue of how much Protestantism there already was. Dickens states, At the moment of her introduction the domestic situation was favourable to her Protestant design. By this he is implying that by the time of her accession England had a population that was prepared to greet Protestantism with open arms.



Dickens comments that this is because of the treatment of Protestants during Marys reign.

Eamon Duffy for instance suggests that Protestantism did not find a take response in the hearts of the people. He suggests, the Reformation was besides a few eccentrics and some hopeless converts who had become Calvinists that embraced the face Reformation, but that the people as a whole remained Catholic.

He states, The Protestant Reformation was, for the most part, an elitist and violent imposition upon a solidly Catholic England.

If you want to get a complete essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com



If you want to get a full essay, wisit our page: write my paper