The death of Queen Mary I on November 17, 1558, was a pivotal moment for England, marking the end of the Tudor Catholic restoration and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation's consolidation under her half-sister, Elizabeth I. Mary, who ruled from 1553 until her death, earned the nickname 'Bloody Mary' for her persecution of Protestants, which led to the martyrdom of many and amplified religious tensions within the country. Her reign aimed to restore Catholicism after the Protestant reforms initiated by her father, Henry VIII. However, Mary’s efforts faced opposition from the Protestant establishment and ultimately led to a decline in her popularity.

Upon her death, Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, ascended the throne. As a Protestant ruler, Elizabeth I would retract her sister’s Catholic policies and promote the Church of England's moderate Protestantism, which had widespread support. Elizabeth’s reign lasted for 45 years, during which time she navigated complex political landscapes, including conflicts with Catholic Spain and France, while successfully maintaining relative peace and stability within England. Elizabeth's rule is often celebrated for the flourishing of arts, the early English exploration of the New World, and her skilled political maneuvers, including the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Under Elizabeth I, England began to emerge as a major European power. Her promotion of the arts supported the likes of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, fostering a rich cultural environment. Elizabeth's era was marked by the strengthening of national identity, and the establishment of colonial ventures in the Americas contributed to England's eventual global dominance. Thus, her accession was not merely a succession but the commencement of a transformative period that would shape the trajectory of English history for centuries to follow.