ALL HISTORY A LEVEL TUDOR ESSAY PLANS
These essay plans helped me go from being stuck on C’s throughout Year 12 and the start of Year 13 to getting
an A in my official exams. Memorise these and you’ll be ready for your Tudor exams.
Henry VII
“Rebellions in the years 1489 and 1497 stemmed from the weakness of central
government.”
Against
Paragraph 1 – Dynastic insecurity and foreign policy as main causes
• Point: The Perkin Warbeck uprising was primarily a dynastic rebellion caused by Henry’s
weak foreign recognition.
• Evidence: Warbeck was supported by Margaret of Burgundy (2,000 soldiers) and James IV
of Scotland (£1,200 annual pension and marriage alliance). He also exploited the Cornish
rebellion in 1497. Earlier, Lambert Simnel pretended to be the Earl of Warwick with foreign
backing.
• Explain: These challenges stemmed from Henry’s lack of legitimacy abroad, not purely
central weakness.
• Evaluation: However, repeated Yorkist uprisings also suggest that Henry’s government
lacked the strength to prevent pretenders gaining traction in England.
• Link: Dynastic and foreign-policy issues were key, though central weakness left space for
them to cause unrest.
For
Paragraph 2 – Cornish rebellion reflects central weakness
• Point: The Cornish rebellion highlighted the fragility of central authority in the South-
West.
• Evidence: 15,000 rebels marched from Cornwall to the outskirts of London with little
resistance; sparked by taxation for the Scottish war.
• Explain: Henry lacked strong noble presence in Cornwall and the South-West, making it
difficult to enforce royal authority.
• Evaluation: However, the rebellion was also driven by economic grievances, as the Cornish
resented paying for a war that did not affect them.
• Link: The rebellion therefore exposed both weak governance and wider economic
discontent.
Against
Paragraph 3 – Economic grievances were the main driver
• Point: Taxation sparked both rebellions more than administrative weakness.
• Evidence: Yorkshire rebellion (1489) against £100,000 subsidy for Brittany campaign;
Cornish rebellion (1497) against subsidy for war with Scotland.
• Explain: People resisted funding foreign wars irrelevant to their interests, especially after
years of hardship from the Wars of the Roses.
• Evaluation: However, the crown’s inability to enforce taxation in regions like the North
also reflected weaknesses in local administration.
,• Link: Taxation resentment was the primary cause, though fragile central control made
enforcement more difficult
“Henry VII’s reforms in government were limited in scope and in success.”
For
Paragraph 1 – Lack of changes in Parliament
• Point: Henry made minimal changes to Parliament and rarely used it.
• Evidence: Called Parliament only 7 times; first 5 calls in first 10 years mainly to pass
taxation and attainders; little role in decision-making.
• Explain: Shows Henry distrusted Parliament and preferred personal control, often
bypassing it with bonds, recognisances, and attainders.
• Evaluation: However, the lack of use could be seen as a way to ensure political stability
after years of civil war.
• Link: This demonstrates that government reform through Parliament was limited in scope
and effectiveness.
Against
Paragraph 2 – Privy Council reforms
• Point: Henry reformed the Privy Council to create a loyal administrative body.
• Evidence: Introduced “new men” from the gentry, e.g., Reginald Bray and Sir Dudley;
council became centre of government; only smaller meetings held for efficiency; advised
King on state matters.
• Explain: Increased efficiency and loyalty ensured that government could function
effectively under Henry’s control.
• Evaluation: However, the council split into committees like the Star Chamber and Council
Learned in Law, which were resented for abuse of power (Empson and Dudley executed by
Henry VIII).
• Link: Privy Council reforms improved administration, but limited success due to public
resentment and abuse of power.
For
Paragraph 3 – Failure to reform the Council of the North
• Point: Henry struggled to extend government authority in the North.
• Evidence: North opposed the Crown since 1069; after Northumberland’s murder (1489),
responsibility split between Lord Dacre, Thomas Howard, and Council in London; led to
Yorkshire Rebellion.
• Explain: Weak royal influence showed limited success of central reforms outside the
South.
• Evaluation: However, Henry did successfully reform Council in Wales by placing Jasper
Tudor and Prince Arthur as governors, reducing crime and lawlessness.
• Link: Northern reform was limited, showing Henry’s reforms were uneven in scope and
effectiveness.
, “Henry VII’s financial policies were the most important reason for the success of his rule.”
For
Paragraph 1 – Financial policies transformed England’s revenue and power
• Point: Henry’s financial policies strengthened the monarchy and increased royal revenue.
• Evidence: Act of Resumption (1486) restored lands lost during Wars of the Roses,
increasing revenue from £12k to £42k; largest landowner in England; reduced nobility by
25%. Banned raw wool exports and Act of Navigation (1486) increased cloth exports by 60%;
left his son with £300,000 surplus.
• Explain: Policies increased wealth, trade influence, and reduced noble power,
consolidating Henry’s authority.
• Evaluation: However, financial demands contributed to rebellions, e.g., Yorkshire (1489)
and Cornish (1497), showing that policies were unpopular and sometimes destabilising.
• Link: Financial reforms were important for royal power, but they also sparked unrest.
Against
Paragraph 2 – Foreign policy strengthened Tudor stability more effectively
• Point: Henry’s cautious foreign policy helped secure his throne and reduce threats.
• Evidence: Treaties: Estaples (France), Medina del Campo (Spain), Ayton (Scotland). These
treaties neutralised external threats and weakened Warbeck’s rebellion; allowed focus on
domestic policy.
• Explain: Diplomatic recognition secured Henry’s legitimacy and reduced the likelihood of
uprisings.
• Evaluation: However, financial benefits were partly a result of foreign policy—pensions
from France (£5k/year) and increased trade with Antwerp, Spain, Florence, Venice
supported revenue growth.
• Link: While foreign policy was more directly stabilising, it also reinforced financial success.
For
Paragraph 3 – Control of the nobility strengthened rule
• Point: Henry’s use of bonds, recognisances, attainders, and retaining laws consolidated
authority.
• Evidence: 46/62 noble families under financial obligation; 176 attainders; fined Lord
Bergavenny £70k; loyal advisors reduced domestic uprisings after 1497.
• Explain: Limited noble threats and strengthened central control, reducing chances of
rebellion.
• Evaluation: However, methods like the Council Learned in Law created resentment;
Empson and Dudley were arrested by Henry VIII due to their harsh control.
• Link: Noble control was a key success factor, though unpopular methods limited long-term
approval.
These essay plans helped me go from being stuck on C’s throughout Year 12 and the start of Year 13 to getting
an A in my official exams. Memorise these and you’ll be ready for your Tudor exams.
Henry VII
“Rebellions in the years 1489 and 1497 stemmed from the weakness of central
government.”
Against
Paragraph 1 – Dynastic insecurity and foreign policy as main causes
• Point: The Perkin Warbeck uprising was primarily a dynastic rebellion caused by Henry’s
weak foreign recognition.
• Evidence: Warbeck was supported by Margaret of Burgundy (2,000 soldiers) and James IV
of Scotland (£1,200 annual pension and marriage alliance). He also exploited the Cornish
rebellion in 1497. Earlier, Lambert Simnel pretended to be the Earl of Warwick with foreign
backing.
• Explain: These challenges stemmed from Henry’s lack of legitimacy abroad, not purely
central weakness.
• Evaluation: However, repeated Yorkist uprisings also suggest that Henry’s government
lacked the strength to prevent pretenders gaining traction in England.
• Link: Dynastic and foreign-policy issues were key, though central weakness left space for
them to cause unrest.
For
Paragraph 2 – Cornish rebellion reflects central weakness
• Point: The Cornish rebellion highlighted the fragility of central authority in the South-
West.
• Evidence: 15,000 rebels marched from Cornwall to the outskirts of London with little
resistance; sparked by taxation for the Scottish war.
• Explain: Henry lacked strong noble presence in Cornwall and the South-West, making it
difficult to enforce royal authority.
• Evaluation: However, the rebellion was also driven by economic grievances, as the Cornish
resented paying for a war that did not affect them.
• Link: The rebellion therefore exposed both weak governance and wider economic
discontent.
Against
Paragraph 3 – Economic grievances were the main driver
• Point: Taxation sparked both rebellions more than administrative weakness.
• Evidence: Yorkshire rebellion (1489) against £100,000 subsidy for Brittany campaign;
Cornish rebellion (1497) against subsidy for war with Scotland.
• Explain: People resisted funding foreign wars irrelevant to their interests, especially after
years of hardship from the Wars of the Roses.
• Evaluation: However, the crown’s inability to enforce taxation in regions like the North
also reflected weaknesses in local administration.
,• Link: Taxation resentment was the primary cause, though fragile central control made
enforcement more difficult
“Henry VII’s reforms in government were limited in scope and in success.”
For
Paragraph 1 – Lack of changes in Parliament
• Point: Henry made minimal changes to Parliament and rarely used it.
• Evidence: Called Parliament only 7 times; first 5 calls in first 10 years mainly to pass
taxation and attainders; little role in decision-making.
• Explain: Shows Henry distrusted Parliament and preferred personal control, often
bypassing it with bonds, recognisances, and attainders.
• Evaluation: However, the lack of use could be seen as a way to ensure political stability
after years of civil war.
• Link: This demonstrates that government reform through Parliament was limited in scope
and effectiveness.
Against
Paragraph 2 – Privy Council reforms
• Point: Henry reformed the Privy Council to create a loyal administrative body.
• Evidence: Introduced “new men” from the gentry, e.g., Reginald Bray and Sir Dudley;
council became centre of government; only smaller meetings held for efficiency; advised
King on state matters.
• Explain: Increased efficiency and loyalty ensured that government could function
effectively under Henry’s control.
• Evaluation: However, the council split into committees like the Star Chamber and Council
Learned in Law, which were resented for abuse of power (Empson and Dudley executed by
Henry VIII).
• Link: Privy Council reforms improved administration, but limited success due to public
resentment and abuse of power.
For
Paragraph 3 – Failure to reform the Council of the North
• Point: Henry struggled to extend government authority in the North.
• Evidence: North opposed the Crown since 1069; after Northumberland’s murder (1489),
responsibility split between Lord Dacre, Thomas Howard, and Council in London; led to
Yorkshire Rebellion.
• Explain: Weak royal influence showed limited success of central reforms outside the
South.
• Evaluation: However, Henry did successfully reform Council in Wales by placing Jasper
Tudor and Prince Arthur as governors, reducing crime and lawlessness.
• Link: Northern reform was limited, showing Henry’s reforms were uneven in scope and
effectiveness.
, “Henry VII’s financial policies were the most important reason for the success of his rule.”
For
Paragraph 1 – Financial policies transformed England’s revenue and power
• Point: Henry’s financial policies strengthened the monarchy and increased royal revenue.
• Evidence: Act of Resumption (1486) restored lands lost during Wars of the Roses,
increasing revenue from £12k to £42k; largest landowner in England; reduced nobility by
25%. Banned raw wool exports and Act of Navigation (1486) increased cloth exports by 60%;
left his son with £300,000 surplus.
• Explain: Policies increased wealth, trade influence, and reduced noble power,
consolidating Henry’s authority.
• Evaluation: However, financial demands contributed to rebellions, e.g., Yorkshire (1489)
and Cornish (1497), showing that policies were unpopular and sometimes destabilising.
• Link: Financial reforms were important for royal power, but they also sparked unrest.
Against
Paragraph 2 – Foreign policy strengthened Tudor stability more effectively
• Point: Henry’s cautious foreign policy helped secure his throne and reduce threats.
• Evidence: Treaties: Estaples (France), Medina del Campo (Spain), Ayton (Scotland). These
treaties neutralised external threats and weakened Warbeck’s rebellion; allowed focus on
domestic policy.
• Explain: Diplomatic recognition secured Henry’s legitimacy and reduced the likelihood of
uprisings.
• Evaluation: However, financial benefits were partly a result of foreign policy—pensions
from France (£5k/year) and increased trade with Antwerp, Spain, Florence, Venice
supported revenue growth.
• Link: While foreign policy was more directly stabilising, it also reinforced financial success.
For
Paragraph 3 – Control of the nobility strengthened rule
• Point: Henry’s use of bonds, recognisances, attainders, and retaining laws consolidated
authority.
• Evidence: 46/62 noble families under financial obligation; 176 attainders; fined Lord
Bergavenny £70k; loyal advisors reduced domestic uprisings after 1497.
• Explain: Limited noble threats and strengthened central control, reducing chances of
rebellion.
• Evaluation: However, methods like the Council Learned in Law created resentment;
Empson and Dudley were arrested by Henry VIII due to their harsh control.
• Link: Noble control was a key success factor, though unpopular methods limited long-term
approval.
