To what extent was religion the main reason for the unrest in England between 1485 and 1603?
Intro
From 1485 to 1602, there is clear evidence that there were many causes of the rebellion. The
reasons for such unrest have been identified by historians as religious, dynastic or socio-
economic hardships. The rise of taxation and the continuous unsuccessful harvests in the
combination with intense religious tension had caused many of the people to rebel. 1485 saw
the coronation of Henry VII and the birth of the Tudor dynasty, having been preceded by 30
years of violent unrest during the wars of the roses it is unsurprising that Henry Tudor’s reign
also experienced rebellion. However, the civil disobedience that continued to permeate the
Tudor reign was not a direct result of the wars of roses, multiple other factors contributed to
the people’s mutiny. Henry VIII invoked massive change within England when he broke
from Rome and consequently religious tensions dominated his and his children’s rule.
However, it is very important to understand that religious factors were not a part of the reason
for the causing of rebellion prior to the reformation, instead of religious, it was the
quarrelling of Dynastic and in the sense of attempting to remove Henry VII. In the later era,
political faction and desire changed its nature into becoming the catalyst for the rebellion.
Additionally, political discord also fed into the countries’ volatile disposition and socio-
economic, such as the disagreement to the taxes and the imposition of enclosures amplified
the peoples’ discontent. Additionally, there were other economic causes for rebellion, such as
rumours over the robbing of church plate and wealth. Moreover, xenophobia was another
cause of rebellion, as demonstrated by the Evil May Day Rising, [1] and localised ethnic
disparities often played a significant role in contributing to rebel resentment. Given these
wide-ranging reasons, the primary cause of rebellion appears to be religion and economy, and
nearly all Tudor rebellions have an economic or religious outrage against them. In this essay,
to what extent was religion the main reason for the unrest in England between 1485 and 1603
will be investigated, looking into religion and other possible causes that led to Tudor’s
rebellion.
Body
During the Tudor rule, which is between 1485 and 1603, while religious changes are no
doubt a primary cause for many rebellions in both Ireland and England, it is very arguable
that it is the one and only cause of the rebellion after the separation between England and
Papacy in Rome, Henry the seventh making himself the Supreme Head of the Church of
England solely for the purpose to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon, which ultimately
resulted in the existence of the Supremacy act during 1534. In 1536, Pilgrimage of Grace was
undeniably the largest rebellion with more than 30,000 rebels joining the rebellion and it was
due to the closing of Parish churches and monasteries in Lincolnshire, Lancashire and
Yorkshire. It kept going two months and, beneath Robert Aske's authority, comprised of
protesters from all social classes. Numerous see it as a reaction to devout unsettling
influences, with Henry being the head of the Church in specific. Henry the VII making
himself the Supreme Head of Church of England and passing of the Supremacy Act, the
throwing off of the pope that lead to the threatening of traditionalism, was not the concern of
the people during the time. It was the local churches and religiously practised that was taken
1
Intro
From 1485 to 1602, there is clear evidence that there were many causes of the rebellion. The
reasons for such unrest have been identified by historians as religious, dynastic or socio-
economic hardships. The rise of taxation and the continuous unsuccessful harvests in the
combination with intense religious tension had caused many of the people to rebel. 1485 saw
the coronation of Henry VII and the birth of the Tudor dynasty, having been preceded by 30
years of violent unrest during the wars of the roses it is unsurprising that Henry Tudor’s reign
also experienced rebellion. However, the civil disobedience that continued to permeate the
Tudor reign was not a direct result of the wars of roses, multiple other factors contributed to
the people’s mutiny. Henry VIII invoked massive change within England when he broke
from Rome and consequently religious tensions dominated his and his children’s rule.
However, it is very important to understand that religious factors were not a part of the reason
for the causing of rebellion prior to the reformation, instead of religious, it was the
quarrelling of Dynastic and in the sense of attempting to remove Henry VII. In the later era,
political faction and desire changed its nature into becoming the catalyst for the rebellion.
Additionally, political discord also fed into the countries’ volatile disposition and socio-
economic, such as the disagreement to the taxes and the imposition of enclosures amplified
the peoples’ discontent. Additionally, there were other economic causes for rebellion, such as
rumours over the robbing of church plate and wealth. Moreover, xenophobia was another
cause of rebellion, as demonstrated by the Evil May Day Rising, [1] and localised ethnic
disparities often played a significant role in contributing to rebel resentment. Given these
wide-ranging reasons, the primary cause of rebellion appears to be religion and economy, and
nearly all Tudor rebellions have an economic or religious outrage against them. In this essay,
to what extent was religion the main reason for the unrest in England between 1485 and 1603
will be investigated, looking into religion and other possible causes that led to Tudor’s
rebellion.
Body
During the Tudor rule, which is between 1485 and 1603, while religious changes are no
doubt a primary cause for many rebellions in both Ireland and England, it is very arguable
that it is the one and only cause of the rebellion after the separation between England and
Papacy in Rome, Henry the seventh making himself the Supreme Head of the Church of
England solely for the purpose to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon, which ultimately
resulted in the existence of the Supremacy act during 1534. In 1536, Pilgrimage of Grace was
undeniably the largest rebellion with more than 30,000 rebels joining the rebellion and it was
due to the closing of Parish churches and monasteries in Lincolnshire, Lancashire and
Yorkshire. It kept going two months and, beneath Robert Aske's authority, comprised of
protesters from all social classes. Numerous see it as a reaction to devout unsettling
influences, with Henry being the head of the Church in specific. Henry the VII making
himself the Supreme Head of Church of England and passing of the Supremacy Act, the
throwing off of the pope that lead to the threatening of traditionalism, was not the concern of
the people during the time. It was the local churches and religiously practised that was taken
1
