Travelogue!

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Parliment Building!
When Elizabeth I was succeeded in 1603 by the Scottish King James VI, (thus becoming James I of England), the countries both came under his rule but each retained its own Parliament. James I's successor, Charles I, quarrelled with the English Parliament and, after he provoked the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, their dispute developed into the English Civil War. This building is where congress met, and an extremely exciting place to visit. Many important events happened here!





Tower of London!
The tower is an historic monument in central London, England on the north bank of the River Thames. Queen Elizabeth I, imprisoned for two months in 1554 for her alleged involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion. This tower has held many more famous rulers and law breakers. The event that have happened there are extremely interesting and there are so many to talk about!

My view on the era (Clergy Member)

Dear Journal,
At this time, England is anything but under control. I personally had a great respect for Queen Elizabeth, but my feelings for King James are not so strong. Elizabeth still asked parliment for power and maintained a balance of power amongust the government even though she could have been more forceful with her actions. King James has not lived up to the greatness of Elizabeth. But, as a member of Clergy, I also believe in the divine right as does the King. If God believed that James should be in power, then I will obey his laws and commands. I will remain faithful to my king because I know the God always makes the right decisions. With God on King James's side, hopefully the English government will come together, I would never doubt my Lord. Well, it's time to pray, goodbye for now.

My Life as a Peasant

Dear Journal,
I despise the new king; King James. He is nothing like Elizabeth. He even had the nerve to tell congress "There are no privledges and immunities which can stand against a divinely appointed King." I am personally an independent person, and I do not like my decisions made for me. The fact the King James is assuming so much control is extremey unacceptable in my eyes. I do not agree with him or his values. Queen Elizabeth has left him in debt, and he has done nothing to help out his people. His extravagant courtyard shows his carelessness of the life of the common people. He also publically flauts his male lovers. I have lost all respect for my king. Well, I have to go tend to my children, goodbye for now.

What was the most significant change to happen to the United Kingdom this year?

The most significant change to happen to the United Kingdom occured during Henry VIII's reign. King Henry VII wanted a divorce from his wife but it was not allowed in the Catholic faith. His solution was to creat his own new religion, Anglicanism. Anglicanism is very similar to Catholicism but divorces are allowed. This shifted the country's religion from Catholic to Anglicanism. No longer can Catholics practice their religions. The church of state is now anglican and so the people must become anglican. This was only put into effect for the kings benifit, to secure his dynasty.

Changes in Our Nations

There have been many political changes over the past years. King Henry VIII had many wives and many children. First Catherine of Aragon gave him Mary. During Mary's reign many Anglicans died. Next Ann Boylen gave him a daughter named Elizabether who is now the rightful heir to the throne. She is now requiring for the Chuch to conform to to protestantism. And now Mary Queen of Scots has come to live with her. Mary was tried for murdering her husband and was forced to flee the country. Not only did Elizabeth face that but now she is facing the fact that Ireland, our ally, has decided to go against the Church of England and become and Catholic state.

English Politics.,

Recently King Henry VIII divorce struck up a load of controversey. He created a new religion, anglicanism, to make his divorce possible. His new religion attracted many working class citizens and bought him new approval from the people. Yet next he married Ann Boylen and had a daughter named Elizabeth, the only heir to the throne. And just the other day Henry VIII created the Act in Restraint of Appeals which declared him to be the supreme sovereign in England and forbade judicial appeals to the papacy. He also created the Supremacy Act this declared the king the supreme head of church in England.

My view from Parliment by a Noble

Do we ever have complete power? Do we even have any power? I do not understand our role in English politics. This is so frustrating. Yes, I realize that Queen Elizabeth asks us for our signatures and approvals, but does she really take them into account? What if we had said no and vetoed the bill, would she listen, would it matter? I believe that she just comes to us with these ideas out of pity. She wants to make us feel as if we are a part of the laws made and the bills passed here in England. I wonder what our signatures actually mean. I think we need to speak up, things need to be different. We have to have at least some sort of power. Although we do not meet so often we are a big part of the English government, or so we are told. I'm afraid though, will they listen to me? No, probably not, I am just one small voice with one small opinion. Do others think like me? Oh well, I cant say anything, i wont. ill just keep doing my job and supplying for my family. Little Jenny is 9 now and Taylor is 13. Boy how times flies! We may be moving to the country side soon, Margaret is sick and the doctors believe that the country will be better for her. I am not sure if I will be able to leave here, with my high position and all, that easily.

English Links

Unit 1
The Renaissance - http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/
The 100 years War - http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/background/100yearswar.htm
Renaissance Art - http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/symmetry_sub.html


Unit 2
The English Reformation - http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/reformation.htm
The Spanish Armada - http://www.britainexpress.com/History/tudor/armada.htm
Anglicanism - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01498a.htm

Unit 3
Queen Elizabeth - http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/eliza.htm
English Monarchy - http://www.britannia.com/history/h6f.html

My Country by Queen Elizabeth

Finally, it is my turn to be queen. After years of living in the shadows of my brother Edward and sister Mary, it is finally my turn to rule. My father was Henry VIII and my mother was Anne Boleyn, one of his many wives. What a long complicated family I have!
I began to think of Edward today. I got along well will him, at times. More so than with my sister. One day when I was with him we began to talk about England and what being a good monarch means. I said "what a family is without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch." I need to protect my citizens and encourage the improvement of my country as a whole. I want to be known as one of the greatest monarchs England has ever seen. My success will hopefully come from my political flexibility, my devotion, my ability to manage finances well, my wise selection of ministers, and my sense of royal dignity. I hope I will be remembered forever.
Well I'm off to help England. Good bye for now.

Society in England Units 1 and 2

During this time the black death, also known as the bubonic plaque was going around Europe. It had taken longer to spread to England so many people lived in fear. At this time medicine was not up to par and thousands of people would die because of this. The church also began to deteriorate during this time. This put a lot of doubt and fear into those in most of Europe. Also very common was the amount of peasant revolts throughout England during this time. Literature began to grow and there evolved many new authors, like Geoffery Chaucer who's most famous work was Canterbury Tales. Art became popular and at this time many different styles emerged. This was a time of changes for all aspects of society and many new things evolved.

The Ruler of England

As the time of absolutism and constitutionalism began Queen Elizabeth I was in power in England. She was looked at with much respect and held a large amount of power. Although there was another force, Parliament, they did not hold any power. However, she did acknowledged their existence and went to them so they could sign off on taxes and laws. The type of government this represents is constitutionalism. This is when there does not have to be a written law for the rule to be enforced, it only has to be established. There is a balance of power between the government and their subjects. At this time England was converting from absolutism to constitutionalism and it would be a slow process.