What were the main religious conflicts during Elizabeth I's reign?

The main religious conflicts during Elizabeth I's reign were between Catholics and Protestants, both domestically and internationally.

Elizabeth I ascended to the throne in 1558, inheriting a nation deeply divided by religion. Her father, Henry VIII, had broken away from the Catholic Church, establishing the Church of England. However, her half-sister Mary I, a staunch Catholic, had tried to reverse this, leading to a period of intense persecution of Protestants. When Elizabeth, a Protestant, became queen, she sought a middle way, known as the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, to unify the country.

The Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559 aimed to establish a moderate form of Protestantism. The Act of Supremacy re-established the monarch as the head of the Church of England, while the Act of Uniformity set out the form of worship. However, this compromise did not satisfy everyone. Catholics were unhappy with the rejection of papal authority and the Protestant elements in the services. Some Protestants, particularly the Puritans, felt the reforms did not go far enough in purging Catholic practices.

Domestically, the conflict manifested in various ways. Catholics faced increasing penalties and restrictions, such as fines for not attending Anglican services, known as recusancy fines. The Pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570, encouraging plots against her, such as the Ridolfi Plot (1571), the Throckmorton Plot (1583), and the Babington Plot (1586). These plots aimed to replace Elizabeth with her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, who was eventually executed in 1587.

Internationally, religious conflict was also significant. Catholic Spain, under King Philip II, was a major threat. Tensions culminated in the Spanish Armada of 1588, a failed attempt by Spain to invade England and restore Catholicism. Elizabeth's support for Protestant rebels in the Netherlands and her privateers attacking Spanish ships further strained relations.

In summary, Elizabeth I's reign was marked by significant religious conflict, as she navigated the challenges of maintaining a Protestant nation amidst Catholic opposition both at home and abroad.