Discovering Our Past: Medieval and Early Modern Times

Chapter 8: The Reformation

Web Activity Lesson Plan

Introduction
Students have read about the reformation of the Church of England and the policies of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I regarding the Church. In this exercise, students will compare the relationships of the monarchs to the Church of England, and they will contrast their leadership styles.

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the official Web site of the British Monarchy to learn about the decisions of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I concerning the Church of England. Students will read about Henry VIII's dismissal of the Pope, his leadership style, his view of the Catholic Church, and the effects of reformation upon Protestants and Catholics. Students will also read about the leadership style of Elizabeth I and the actions she took to restore order to the Church of England. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by creating a chart comparing the leadership styles and missions of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Instruction Objectives

1. Students will be able to characterize the motivations and methods of leadership of both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to create a chart comparing the leadership styles and missions of both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. When the Pope excommunicated him, Henry VIII filed an act that stated that England was an empire within which the Pope had no jurisdiction. He refused to accept the validity of the Pope's decision.
2. The Reformation led to the Dissolution of Monasteries, under which monasteries and their properties were seized and sold.
3. The Reformation led to great dissention between Protestants and Catholics.
4. Elizabeth I's mission was to reunite her people and bring order to the Church of England. Her method was to change the Church to satisfy and to appeal to as many people as possible with more uniformity in the Church. Her mission was one of compromise between Catholicism and Protestantism, and she established the 39 Articles of 1563 upon which the Church's order was based.
5. Students' charts will vary.