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The Huguenots The Huguenots were a group of Protestants who became the center of political and religious quarrels in France in the 1500’s and 1600’s. French Protestantism was influenced greatly by powerful religious men such as Martin Luther, and other reformers of the 1500’s. French reform was dominated by the teachings of a man named John Calvin. Calvin was a reformer who headed the church in Geneva Switzerland. The Reformed declared the Bible was "The Word of God" and it contained many references to direct personal relationships between man and God (dictates rendering unto Caesar only what was Caesar's and condemns the worship of graven images). Those of the Reformed faith had to make the choice of submission or flight to states which did not regard their presence and the practice of their religious beliefs as destructive of the state itself. The flight of the Huguenots from France coincided with the colonization of North America. It was also the time of the greatest flowering of French civilization.1The Huguenots underwent some terrible persecution for their beliefs. In fact, on St. Bartholomew’s Day in 1572, hundreds of Huguenots were slaughtered. Although the exact person responsible is not known, historians suspect Catherine De Medicis, and the Duke of Guise.2 England under Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558 to 1603, during which time the country’s success and well being flourished. Elizabeth’s reign is often referred to as the Golden Age because of the enormous success that England had under her reign. During her reign, Elizabeth made the Church of England, a Protestant denomination, the country’s main church. One great accomplishment England enjoyed under Elizabeth’s reign that must be mentioned, was the defeat of the Spanish Armada. In 1578 King Philip II of Spain approved the formation of the Spanish Armada, a huge fleet purposed to destroy England’s domination of the waters. The fleet was sent to England in 1588. The smaller and swifter English ships routed the Spanish fleet. Powerful storms wrecked the fleeing Spanish Ships, off the coast of Ireland and Scotland.3 The defeat of the Spanish ships severely crippled the Spanish army. Although during Elizabeth’s reign the country turned to Protestantism, the protestant church still had many similarities to the Catholic Church.Sources Cited 1. The Huguenot Society of America. 11 Oct. 2004 <http://www.huguenotsocietyofamerica.org/history.html>2. Donald A. Bailey. “Huguenots” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1994 Ed. 2. Arthur J. Slavin. “Elizabeth I” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1994 Ed.
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