Queen Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen

One of the most powerful leaders in history was Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the Virgin Queen. Elizabeth’s journey from being a young woman to one of the most influential leaders in history was filled with obstacles. Throughout Elizabeth’s life, she displayed courage, pieces of her personality, and strength through unity. “After such a splendid ceremony, you would expect both mother and father to be delighted with their new child” (Adams 9). Instead, King Henry VIII was angry at Anne for giving birth to a boy. His yearning for a son led him to marry several times until one of his wives finally gave birth to a son, Edward. Four years later, Henry died and Edward inherited the throne. “After the death of Henry VIII…, King Edward VI …show more content…
Elizabeth was very fond of extravagant and stylish fashion. It is said that her wardrobe consisted of over 2,000 gowns and that she never wore the same one twice (86). However, the expensive fabrics were not enough for Elizabeth. The gowns had to be stitched with gold and silver threads and embellished with stones, such as diamonds and pearls. When Mary was in power, gowns would be found in dull colors. Once Elizabeth took the throne, gowns became more vibrant. Fabrics were dyed an infinite number of colors and became symbolic. For example, black stood for grief and green was symbolic of love. Even as she grew older, she applied pounds of makeup to conceal her aging face. She even stopped using mirrors so she wouldn’t be able to see how the makeup looked on her. Elizabeth had to deal with bigger problems than her looks. Throughout her reign, Elizabeth had developed enemies with powerful …show more content…
Both of these leaders have brought their people together on certain topics. Elizabeth made the English work together to make their country powerful. Obama made Americans realize that our country’s safety is important and that we can only help it if we work together. “So devoted was the queen to her poets, and the poets to her queen…” (Green 57). Elizabeth had people that were very loyal to her and would not be unfaithful. President Obama also has peopled that were faithful to him, which could been seen during his presidential campaigns. During his rallies, people in the crowd were cheering for him. Another example was the election itself. The voters showed their loyalty to Obama when they casted their vote for him. Queen Elizabeth and President Obama show that any leader, despite the time they are from, must have certain characteristics in order to be successful. In conclusion, Elizabeth had several qualities that made her an influential leader. From growing up to being on the throne, she showed courage, her pompous personality, and strength through unity among her people. During her successful reign, England came out of debt and became one of the most prosperous countries in the