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According to the BBC Bitesize website, it was the Puritans who posed the ‘greatest threat’ to Elizabeth within Parliament and the Court between 1580 and 1603 - OCR Gateway - GCSE History - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 4
According to the BBC Bitesize website, it was the Puritans who posed the ‘greatest threat’ to Elizabeth within Parliament and the Court between 1580 and 1603. How f... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:According to the BBC Bitesize website, it was the Puritans who posed the ‘greatest threat’ to Elizabeth within Parliament and the Court between 1580 and 1603 - OCR Gateway - GCSE History - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Evaluate the Puritans as a Threat
Answer
The Puritans posed a significant challenge to Elizabeth I's religious policies and authority. Their desire for further reforms often put them at odds with the established Church of England, leading to tensions within Parliament. The Puritans' insistence on clearer religious practices threatened the religious settlement that Elizabeth worked hard to maintain, causing concern among her supporters.
Step 2
Discuss Other Factors of Threat
Answer
While the Puritans were a notable threat, other factors also contributed to the challenges Elizabeth faced. For instance, the court factions, including figures like Robert Dudley and Robert Devereux, influenced her decisions and created political instability. These factions often clashed with one another, reflecting the complex political landscape of Elizabeth's reign.
Step 3
Assessing the Common Perception
Answer
It is important to consider how historians and sources have interpreted the significance of the Puritans compared to other threats. Many argue that the Puritan threat was more ideological rather than a direct military or insurrectionary challenge, allowing other issues, such as foreign policy and economic pressures, to play critical roles in her governance.
Step 4
Conclusion
Answer
In conclusion, while the Puritans were indeed a significant threat to Elizabeth I, particularly in the context of religious alignment and parliamentary politics, they were not the sole threat. The complex interplay of various factions and political dynamics within Parliament and the Court must be acknowledged to understand the full scope of the challenges Elizabeth faced during her reign.