Evaluating the Reign of Mary I and the Complexity of Historical Interpretation

Evaluating the Reign of Mary I and the Complexity of Historical Interpretation

Mary I's Persecution of Protestants

Mary I burned 284 Protestants, more than other monarchs of her time. Other rulers executed thousands for religious dissent. Mary's actions were not isolated; it was typical to execute dissenters during this period.

What do you already know about Mary I's reign and the persecution of Protestants?

Comparative Analysis of Monarchial Persecutions in the 16th Century

Henry VIII burned 81 people in 38 years, Edward VI burned 2 in 6 years, and Elizabeth I burned 5 in 35 years. Mary's father-in-law executed thousands for religious dissent.

Biases in Historical Accounts

The primary source for the number of burnings, written by a Protestant, may have exaggerated to portray Mary negatively. Cardinal Pole, an English cardinal of the Catholic Church, influenced Mary I's religious policies.

Mary I's Political and Religious Challenges

Mary's advisors, particularly Cardinal Pole, influenced her decisions, especially regarding the persecution of Protestants. Mary showed leniency at times, such as after Wyatt's rebellion and by allowing many Protestants to flee England.

The Impact of Mary I's Reign on England's Population and Religious Landscape

While the burnings were a significant aspect of Mary's reign, the overall English population was largely unaffected, and execution for crimes like theft was common in the 16th century.

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.