The Absolutist Rule Of Queen Elizabeth I

Prior to the establishment of the Stuart dynasty, Queen Elizabeth I ruled from 1558 to 1603. Her rule was unique to her time period, as she ruled as a politique, separating the church and state, somewhat, to maintain, control, and grow her governance. Elizabeth utilized Parliament to ensure her hold on church leadership, while tolerating the practice of other religions, effectively subduing religious rebellions and constant changing that were popularizing in rules prior to hers, Edward VI (1547-1553) and Mary Tudor (1553-1558). Elizabeth exercised great naval protection as proven with the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. This victory showcases the ensured security of her nation and people by military. To maintain her rule, Elizabeth …show more content…
Cromwell’s goal was to establish a protectorate, which would be a republic under an executive ruler and a legislative. In 1653 The Instrument of Government was instituted, establishing, “supreme legislative authority [... as] Parliament [...] chief magistracy and the administration of the government [...as] Lord Protector [...] the Lord Protector, the Parliament sitting, shall dispose and order the militia and forces” (Doc. 5). The statements of the constitution counteracted the parts of Stuart rule believed to be ineffective that made England unhappy, reflecting a new understanding in the control and balance of power. It reinforced the legislative rule of Parliament, which had been ignored in Stuart rule. It also established a ruler that was not a monarch; however, this government form was not agreed upon and never utilized. Thomas Hobbes firmly believed in the necessity of an absolute leader to control the competitions of wealth and power left in the absence of a supreme ruler. This is seen in the cover of his book Leviathan, on which the ruler is larger and commanding over the land, but made up of the people (Doc. 4). This reflects his view that an absolute governor should control the land, and be made up of the riches of the land and protect the interest of the people. The monarch, the head, had to rule, and the body, the people, could not rule the head affirming complete governance of the monarch. The masses of England did not share Hobbes view after the tyrannical, absolutist rule of the Stuarts. Cromwell utilized military dominance to establish a military dictatorship, due to his view that military dominance is fruitful in the development of a nation. The use of a military dominance of a national army was