High A essay (16/20, L4) with critical teacher comments included for
improvement
‘The aggressive ambition of the Yorkists was the main reason for the slide to
civil war in the years 1453-61.’ How far do you agree?
I disagree with the proposed statement because although the Yorkists, primarily the
Duke of York, the Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of March, were ambitious,
‘aggressive’ implies they were purely lusting for total power, whereas the evidence
suggests they took a more defensive position in response to Margaret of Anjou’s
aggressive tactics. As well as this, Henry VI’s weak personality was a much more
important factor than the aggressive ambition of the Yorkists as his unsatisfactory
men-management, coupled with his mental illness creating a vacuum of power in
government, contributed more effectively to the slide to civil war. Additionally,
Margaret of Anjou’s role in enacting aggressive Acts against the Yorkists were also
key in the slide to civil war.
The Yorkists did demonstrate ambition on many occasions but there is debate on the
true aggressiveness of these ambitions. Although the Duke of York began the Battle
of St Albans (1455), he did son with defensive intentions, as the recent release of the
Duke of Somerset from prison by Henry VI suggested that York was going to face
Somerset’s revenge at some point, so instead he struck Somerset pre-emptively.
improvement
‘The aggressive ambition of the Yorkists was the main reason for the slide to
civil war in the years 1453-61.’ How far do you agree?
I disagree with the proposed statement because although the Yorkists, primarily the
Duke of York, the Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of March, were ambitious,
‘aggressive’ implies they were purely lusting for total power, whereas the evidence
suggests they took a more defensive position in response to Margaret of Anjou’s
aggressive tactics. As well as this, Henry VI’s weak personality was a much more
important factor than the aggressive ambition of the Yorkists as his unsatisfactory
men-management, coupled with his mental illness creating a vacuum of power in
government, contributed more effectively to the slide to civil war. Additionally,
Margaret of Anjou’s role in enacting aggressive Acts against the Yorkists were also
key in the slide to civil war.
The Yorkists did demonstrate ambition on many occasions but there is debate on the
true aggressiveness of these ambitions. Although the Duke of York began the Battle
of St Albans (1455), he did son with defensive intentions, as the recent release of the
Duke of Somerset from prison by Henry VI suggested that York was going to face
Somerset’s revenge at some point, so instead he struck Somerset pre-emptively.
