With this weeks reading and discussion in mind, I cannot help but imagine that when Elizabeth came to the throne, the people were pleasantly surprised. She comes off pretty modest in all aspects and does not run around flaunting her assets. For example, the speech she delivered at Cambridge University would have probably surprised many because they did not realize she spoke Latin, as well as a few other languages. She was well rounded in many aspects and had all the qualities of a great ruler. Keeping in mind that all of this is going on during the sixteenth century, I cannot help but be amazed myself at her success considering how against a female ruler this society really was. I think that this amazement is in part because we have not yet had a female president here in the United States. After studying just this small amount about Elizabeth I, I cannot understand why the people of modern America are so opposed to electing a female to the presidency. It is obvious that if the people of England in the sixteenth century could have voted on there ruler, it definitely would have been a male, but at this time it is not in there hands. I think that makes a major difference. The English population was basically forced into having these female rulers and they saw the success of some of them, mainly Elizabeth. I'm not for a monarchy, but I cannot help but feel that if we did not have the right to vote we would not be so "behind the times" when it comes to having a female ruler. I think that if we were to experience a woman in the presidency, it might change many of the opinions people have about that idea. Of course there would always be the chance of proving their negative opinions to be right as well.
(sorry this was kind of a tangent)
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