The Reign of Mary I and Religious Persecution

The Reign of Mary I and Religious Persecution

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you will understand the historical context of Mary I's persecution of Protestants.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to compare the extent of religious persecution under different English monarchs.
At the end of the lesson you will recognize the influence of bias in historical accounts.
At the end of the lesson you will explore the political and religious complexities of 16th-century England.
At the end of the lesson you will assess the motivations and actions of Mary I regarding her religious policies.

What do you already know about Mary I and religious persecution?

Mary I's reign and the burning of Protestants

Mary I, known as 'Bloody Mary', is often remembered for her persecution of Protestants, burning 284 individuals over five years. However, the veracity of these numbers is questioned due to biased sources.

Comparison of execution methods and numbers across different monarchs

Other monarchs, while not burning as many, executed more people in different ways, with Henry VIII killing 70,000 and Elizabeth I executing 300 rebels at once.

The influence of Protestant bias in historical narratives

Execution was a common punishment in the 16th century, with even theft leading to hanging. Despite her reputation, Mary showed leniency on several occasions.

The international context of religious persecution during the period

Mary's actions were in line with the norms of her time and possibly influenced by advisors like Cardinal Pole.

The impact of Mary I's persecution on the English population

Mary showed leniency on several occasions, such as after Wyatt's rebellion and by allowing 800 Protestants to leave England.

16th-century attitudes towards punishment and execution

Execution was a common punishment in the 16th century, with even theft leading to hanging.

Mary I's clemency and attitude towards brutality

Mary showed leniency on several occasions, such as after Wyatt's rebellion and by allowing 800 Protestants to leave England.

The role of advisors in Mary I's reign and religious policies

Her actions were possibly influenced by advisors like Cardinal Pole.

Definition List

Persecution: The systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group.
Bias: Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
16th-century England: A period marked by religious and political turmoil, including the Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England.
Wyatt's Rebellion: An uprising in 1554 against Queen Mary I, which she ultimately quelled, pardoning many of the rebels.
Cardinal Pole: An English cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, during Mary I's reign.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.