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Elizabethan Foreign Policy: Problems, Aims and Rivalries| AQA A Level History

Elizabethan Foreign Policy: Problems, Aims and Rivalries| AQA A Level History

Subject: History

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

9 June 2026

docx, 13.43 KB
docx, 13.43 KB
pptx, 4.81 MB
pptx, 4.81 MB
PNG, 338.55 KB
PNG, 338.55 KB

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603

In this lesson, students assess the political and religious situation in Europe in 1558 and evaluate how these pressures shaped Elizabeth’s approach to foreign affairs.

The lesson begins with a recap of the foreign policy aims of previous Tudor monarchs before students consider how Elizabeth might respond to a range of immediate problems, including the loss of Calais and growing tensions with European powers.

Students are encouraged to predict and evaluate Elizabeth’s priorities as England entered a new and uncertain political landscape.

Using a range of information sheets and structured tasks, students investigate key historical questions including:
Which country posed the greatest threat to Elizabeth and why?
Was Elizabeth’s foreign policy mainly reactive or proactive?
Did England follow a consistent foreign policy?
Who controlled foreign policy more effectively, Elizabeth or her advisers?

These activities aim to promote analytical thinking, interpretation and supported judgement while helping students develop a secure understanding of the complexity of Elizabethan foreign relations.

The lesson also includes exam question practice, incorporating the wider context of Mary, Queen of Scots, to help students strengthen and broaden their essay writing techniques.

An enquiry question is introduced at the beginning of the lesson and revisited throughout, allowing students to demonstrate progress, refine their arguments and deepen their understanding across the lesson and wider unit of work.

Included in this lesson:
Fully editable PowerPoint lesson
Recap of Tudor foreign policy aims
Activities exploring the European situation in 1558 and threats facing Elizabeth I
Investigation into England’s foreign policy priorities
Structured key question tasks and discussion activities
Exam-style question practice, with scaffolding, a model answer and detailed markscheme
Differentiated tasks and suggested teaching strategies

Reviews would be extremely appreciated to aid future planning.

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 33%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

AQA A Level History: The Tudors Foreign Policy Complete Lesson Bundle

This bundle explores the development of Tudor foreign policy from the reign of Henry VII through to Elizabeth I. Students examine the changing aims, successes and failures of Tudor monarchs in their relations with foreign powers including France, Spain and Ireland. The bundle begins with an introduction to Henry VII’s foreign policy aims before exploring key case studies including Brittany and Ireland. Students then investigate the foreign policy of Henry VIII both under and after Thomas Wolsey, before assessing the policies of Mary I and Elizabeth I. The final lessons focus on the war with Spain and Elizabeth’s difficulties in Ireland. Throughout the bundle, students assess changing foreign policy aims, analyse diplomacy, treaties, war and rebellion, and evaluate the success of Tudor monarchs in securing England’s position at home and abroad. Lessons include engaging activities, enquiry questions, interpretation work and exam-style practice, helping students build confidence in analytical and evaluative writing. The lessons are as follows: L1 intro to Henry VII Foreign Policy L2 Henry VII and Brittany L3 Henry VII and Ireland L4 Henry VIII Foreign Policy under Wolsey L5 Henry VIII Foreign Policy after Wolsey L6 Mary I Foreign Policy L7 Elizabeth I Foreign Policy L8 War with Spain L9 Elizabeth and Ireland Skills developed throughout the bundle: Source and interpretation analysis Evaluating historical interpretations Explaining significance and causation Comparing continuity and change Analysing treaties, alliances and diplomacy Constructing supported judgements Extract based exam practice Essay planning and analytical writing Map and contextual analysis Debate and discussion activities Any reviews would be appreciated to aid future planning.

£20.00
Bundle

AQA A Level Tudors: Elizabeth I Complete Bundle

**AQA GCSE A Level 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603** I have created this comprehensive bundle of resources to support students studying AQA A Level History and to help bridge the transition from GCSE to the demands of A Level study. Throughout this enquiry-based bundle, students will investigate the changing nature of Elizabeth’s reign and evaluate what kind of monarch Elizabeth was, considering how and why she adapted her policies and leadership over time. Students will: examine the challenges facing Elizabeth in 1558 and how she consolidated her authority investigate the Religious Settlement of 1559 and the ongoing religious tensions of the reign assess Elizabeth’s character, decision-making and political skill explore how government operated at both national and local level analyse Catholic threats, rebellion, Mary Queen of Scots and Puritan opposition evaluate the successes and failures of Elizabethan foreign policy study poverty, economic change and social developments investigate trade, exploration and England’s growing international influence debate whether Elizabethan England truly experienced a ‘Golden Age’ The lessons are as follows: L1 Introduction L2 Problems L3 Consolidation of power L4 Government of Elizabeth L5 Elizabeth and marriage L6 Background to the Religious Settlement L7 Elizabethan Religious Settlement L8 Catholic threats and rebellion L9 Mary, Queen of Scots L10 The Puritan threat (free resource) L11 Poverty and the Poor Law L12 Foreign Policy introduction L13 War with Spain L14 Elizabeth and Ireland L15 Economy and Society L16 Trade and exploration L17 Elizabeth Golden Age The lessons are fully resourced, differentiated and designed to develop the knowledge, analytical skills and confidence required for success at A Level. A wide range of activities are included throughout, such as source analysis, interpretation work, retrieval practice, debate, exam preparation and independent learning tasks. This bundle also includes extensive support for both AQA exam question types, including: model answers essay planning guidance scaffolding and structure support examiner-style advice helpful hints and tips mark schemes and assessment guidance (Please refer to the official AQA website for additional assessment materials and specimen papers, as these remain subject to copyright.) These lessons are designed to save planning time while maintaining high academic standards and student engagement throughout the course. If you are interested in the full Tudor A Level Bundle 1485-1603, please click here: /teaching-resource/resource-13151989. If you have any questions about the resources, please feel free to contact me via my TES shop. Reviews and feedback are always very much appreciated.

£38.00

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