Tudor Summary Notes
Tudor Summary Notes......................................................................................................................1
The Tudor century: an overview.......................................................................................................1
Overview of the main rebellions.......................................................................................................2
Political Causes:................................................................................................................................5
Religious Causes:............................................................................................................................10
Economic & Social Causes:..............................................................................................................14
Conclusion:.....................................................................................................................................22
The Tudor century: an overview
The Wars of the Roses & their impact:
- Succession had been a major problem from 1399 = Henry IV took over
from Richard II.
- Although Henry & his son (Henry V) had some stability, this didn’t last =
Henry V died in 1422 & left Henry VI to succeed him,
- However, he was weak & unable to maintain control of the nobility +
Richard of York emerged with a claim to the throne.
- This conflict known as Wars of the Roses, between Lancastrians (Henry VI)
& the Yorkists (Richard & then Edward) = ended in 1461 when Edward
won & took the throne.
- However, didn’t bring stability as Henry regained it in 1470, but
overthrown by Edward within a year.
- Death of Edward saw unrest continue as Richard seized the throne from
Edward’s twelve-year-old heir & was crowned as Richard III.
- Continued changes of succession created instability & suggested that
force rather than legitimacy would determine it = nobility would fight to
determine who would rule & resulted in them assembling private armies,
which intimidated others (included the King) and meant parts of England
had little royal authority.
- Situation furthered damaged Henry VII’s position as King, as not only was
claim weak, but he sized it by force + faced challenges from Yorkists (saw
Richard II defeated in 1485) & nobles who wanted to maintain influence.
- For much of his reign, Henry’s main concerns were recognition, stop
Yorkist unrest & lessen nobles’ power.
Religious Change:
- When Henry VII came to throne in 1485, all were Catholic & Pope head of
Church = common religious belief united people through traditions.
- However, Henry VIII broke from Catholic Church when he needed divorce
from Catherine of Aragon = led to no. religious changes.
, - Although Mary reversed them, that was short-lived when Elizabeth
succeeded her & re-established Protestantism.
- Created further unrest from 1530s as people saw religious practices
attacked & even under Mary the restoration didn’t restore order as those
already changed tried to prevent it.
- It was only once Elizabeth was established on throne in 1570s that unrest
died away = Catholics’ hopes of restoration became dependent on foreign
help or plots of assassination.
- Events such as Armada in 1588 served only to strengthen her position &
associate new faith with nationalism = religion became unifying.
Social & Economic Changes:
- Population of England began to increase & from 1525 it became rapid =
had a dramatic impact, from 1540 onwards.
- The large population increased pressure on demand of food, which
couldn’t always be met & was problem during bad harvests = made worse
by conversion of agricultural land from arable to sheep farming, as fewer
crops grown & labourers required to look after sheep.
- Growing population stimulated demand for industrial goods, and although
created employment, it also meant in times of economic slumps many
became unemployed (1550s).
- Problems made worse by warfare, as Henry VIII & Edward VI both debased,
which put more money into circulation & increased prices = prices
doubled in early 1500s & wages didn’t keep up.
- Poor increased, which concerned towns where large concentration, who
were seen by authorities as threat to law & order + source for rebellions.
- Fall in living standards did encourage many of commons to support unrest
of 1549, but although situation worse in 1590s, few disturbances as
government put into place legislation to lessen impact of poverty.
- Therefore, although social & economic developments did play a role in
unrest in 1st ½ of 1500s, they were less of an issue as it drew to a close,
partly due to legislation but became peasantry realised rebellion achieved
little.
CONCLUSION:
- The dynastic challenges that the Tudors faced at the beginning gradually
diminished as alternatives were killed.
- Religious & social-economic change in middle of period presented new
challenges for the monarchs,
- However, Elizabeth’s long reign allowed Protestantism to triumph & govt.
to respond to social-economic difficulties, which reduced likelihood of
unrest.
Overview of the main rebellions
Henry VII (1485-1509):
Faced 5 serious revolts, 3 which aimed to overthrow him.
Tudor Summary Notes......................................................................................................................1
The Tudor century: an overview.......................................................................................................1
Overview of the main rebellions.......................................................................................................2
Political Causes:................................................................................................................................5
Religious Causes:............................................................................................................................10
Economic & Social Causes:..............................................................................................................14
Conclusion:.....................................................................................................................................22
The Tudor century: an overview
The Wars of the Roses & their impact:
- Succession had been a major problem from 1399 = Henry IV took over
from Richard II.
- Although Henry & his son (Henry V) had some stability, this didn’t last =
Henry V died in 1422 & left Henry VI to succeed him,
- However, he was weak & unable to maintain control of the nobility +
Richard of York emerged with a claim to the throne.
- This conflict known as Wars of the Roses, between Lancastrians (Henry VI)
& the Yorkists (Richard & then Edward) = ended in 1461 when Edward
won & took the throne.
- However, didn’t bring stability as Henry regained it in 1470, but
overthrown by Edward within a year.
- Death of Edward saw unrest continue as Richard seized the throne from
Edward’s twelve-year-old heir & was crowned as Richard III.
- Continued changes of succession created instability & suggested that
force rather than legitimacy would determine it = nobility would fight to
determine who would rule & resulted in them assembling private armies,
which intimidated others (included the King) and meant parts of England
had little royal authority.
- Situation furthered damaged Henry VII’s position as King, as not only was
claim weak, but he sized it by force + faced challenges from Yorkists (saw
Richard II defeated in 1485) & nobles who wanted to maintain influence.
- For much of his reign, Henry’s main concerns were recognition, stop
Yorkist unrest & lessen nobles’ power.
Religious Change:
- When Henry VII came to throne in 1485, all were Catholic & Pope head of
Church = common religious belief united people through traditions.
- However, Henry VIII broke from Catholic Church when he needed divorce
from Catherine of Aragon = led to no. religious changes.
, - Although Mary reversed them, that was short-lived when Elizabeth
succeeded her & re-established Protestantism.
- Created further unrest from 1530s as people saw religious practices
attacked & even under Mary the restoration didn’t restore order as those
already changed tried to prevent it.
- It was only once Elizabeth was established on throne in 1570s that unrest
died away = Catholics’ hopes of restoration became dependent on foreign
help or plots of assassination.
- Events such as Armada in 1588 served only to strengthen her position &
associate new faith with nationalism = religion became unifying.
Social & Economic Changes:
- Population of England began to increase & from 1525 it became rapid =
had a dramatic impact, from 1540 onwards.
- The large population increased pressure on demand of food, which
couldn’t always be met & was problem during bad harvests = made worse
by conversion of agricultural land from arable to sheep farming, as fewer
crops grown & labourers required to look after sheep.
- Growing population stimulated demand for industrial goods, and although
created employment, it also meant in times of economic slumps many
became unemployed (1550s).
- Problems made worse by warfare, as Henry VIII & Edward VI both debased,
which put more money into circulation & increased prices = prices
doubled in early 1500s & wages didn’t keep up.
- Poor increased, which concerned towns where large concentration, who
were seen by authorities as threat to law & order + source for rebellions.
- Fall in living standards did encourage many of commons to support unrest
of 1549, but although situation worse in 1590s, few disturbances as
government put into place legislation to lessen impact of poverty.
- Therefore, although social & economic developments did play a role in
unrest in 1st ½ of 1500s, they were less of an issue as it drew to a close,
partly due to legislation but became peasantry realised rebellion achieved
little.
CONCLUSION:
- The dynastic challenges that the Tudors faced at the beginning gradually
diminished as alternatives were killed.
- Religious & social-economic change in middle of period presented new
challenges for the monarchs,
- However, Elizabeth’s long reign allowed Protestantism to triumph & govt.
to respond to social-economic difficulties, which reduced likelihood of
unrest.
Overview of the main rebellions
Henry VII (1485-1509):
Faced 5 serious revolts, 3 which aimed to overthrow him.
