How Is Queen Elizabeth A Good Leader

Queen Elizabeth I: A Hero and Leader

Great leaders are all around us, but have you ever wondered what it takes to be one of those leaders? To be a good leader is to protect your country, give them freedom, and make the best decisions for your people. Queen Elizabeth I of England is a great example of a leader who possesses these traits. She was known as “Good Queen Bess” because of her strength in leadership and wisdom in war. Queen Elizabeth I proved herself worthy of being a leader when she gave her people freedom, used her intelligence to benefit her country, and brought peace and prosperity to England.

Unlike Queen Mary of Scots, Queen Elizabeth allowed her subjects to choose their religion, and “she did not know that one day she would resolve the religious conflicts and bring peace and prosperity to England.” (Weatherly, 13) “Queen Mary did not like that her father, King Henry VIII had established the protestant Church of England.” (Weatherly, 13) Queen Mary of Scots was a Catholic woman who liked the Roman Catholic country England used to be, and she wanted to change it back. She had

killed and persecuted many Protestant Christians, and as a result, she was called “bloody Mary.” “Elizabeth made the Church of England, a Protestant denominated, the country’s main church,” (Slavin, 238) but Elizabeth allowed Puritans and Catholics in the country as long as they were loyal to her. Elizabeth gave England freedom with their choice of religion, and she only asked for one thing in return, loyalty.Such freedom will help a country flourish and prosper without as many religious conflicts, and will allow all citizens of a country to be happy with their religion. Elizabeth resolved many religious conflicts when she gave England freedom when it came to religion.
Elizabeth’s intelligence helped her during war and helped her support her country. “Elizabeth used her marriage prospects as a political tool in foreign and domestic policies.” (The Official Website of the British Monarchy) She had many suitors such as Robert Dudley, the first Earl of Leicester, who she liked but never married. She did this to ensure that no one stole her power, and that she remained the only ruler of England to keep her country safe. Unfortunately, in 1588, King Philip II launched the Invincible Armada and forced the English to fight. (Ashby, 32) During this battle, Elizabeth’s intelligence and military skills were put to the test, and she showed England that she was worthy of being their leader. Ruth Ashby says, “The defeat of the Armada was the high point of Elizabeth’s reign” probably because it convinced many English that she had what it took to be a great leader. Elizabeth’s intelligence allowed her to win battles and defend her country from power hungry nobles and princes.
During Elizabeth’s reign, also known as the Elizabethan Age, from 1558 to 1603, she brought peace and prosperity to England.

“Elizabeth worked to strengthen England’s economy, and she encouraged trade and commerce.” (TCI: The Medieval World) Not only did Elizabeth help England grow economically by encouraging trade, she also helped England learn about other cultures through cultural diffusion. Trade helped England grow economically, academically, and culturally. “Elizabeth’s great goals were to keep her country solvent and out of war.” (Ashby, 33) Elizabeth encourages trade and uses her marriage prospects to achieve her goals, and this is what a good leader does. A good leader does whatever it takes to make sure he or she achieves their main goal, to protect and keep the country safe. Elizabeth is an example of a great leader who brought England peace and

prosperity.
Throughout her life, Elizabeth shows many traits that makes her worthy of being recognized as one of England’s most powerful and successful leaders and monarchs. By giving her country freedom, she allowed people to live peacefully with their own religion, and she solved many violent conflicts about the Protestant and Catholic church. Also, her use of intelligence to help England stay safe and protected. England flourished culturally, economically, and academically because of Elizabeth’s desire for trade and commerce which helped her keep England solvent. Elizabeth should be respected as a great leader and important monarch of England for her hard work and effort in making England a better and safer country for her people.