Friday, 7 September 2012

Why was there tension between Catholics and Protestants in the Renaissance/Elizabethan era?

After Henry VIII’s break from Rome in 1532 more protestant ideas are formed. When Elizabeth succeeds Henry she transforms Britain to Protestant, increasing taxes on Catholics and banning them from some occupations. This angers Catholics, particularly in Rome. Elizabeth then forces citizens of Britain to make an oath of Supremacy and including that they attend Sunday church or are fined. Elizabeth eventually wins autonomy from Rome; however there were still a minority of Catholics in Britain who hatched plots against the Protestant government, notably in 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his followers hatched the infamous Gunpowder Plot, which was unsuccessful!

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