Discovering Our Past: Medieval and Early Modern Times

"The Reformation"

Introduction
When England's King Henry VIII removed the Pope as the head of the Church of England, he began the reformation of the Church. Henry's rage at the Pope was so great that he even passed a law stating that anyone who did not accept the king as head of the Church would be tried for heresy. In contrast to her father's fatal blow to Catholicism, Elizabeth I took the throne wanting to temper the format of the Church so that it would appeal to as many people as possible.

To learn more about the two English monarchs who promoted and refined the reformation of the Church, go to the official Web site of the British Monarchy.

Destination Title: The British Monarchy

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips.

Directions
Start at the official British Monarchy Web site.

• Click on the "History" topic.
• Scroll down to "Selected Royal Profiles" and browse through the "Henry VIII" and "Elizabeth I" profiles, taking notes as you go.

1			How did Henry respond to his excommunication by the Pope?
2			What effects did the Reformation have upon Catholic properties?
3			What effects did Henry's decisions have upon Catholic and Protestant relations?
4			What did Elizabeth do to organize the Church of England? What was her mission?
5			On a separate sheet of paper, use what you have learned to create a chart comparing and contrasting the leadership styles and missions of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.