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Henry VIII and his Ministers - GCSE
Edexcel History Exam 2| Question and
Verified Answers 2025/2026| Graded A
Explain how Wolsey’s legal reforms changed the justice system.
He made courts cheaper and more available for poor people, especially through the Court of
Star Chamber.
Assess the reasons why Wolsey failed to get Henry a divorce from Catherine.
The Pope was under pressure from Charles V (Catherine’s nephew), and Wolsey couldn’t
outplay that—even with all his clever arguments.
How did Wolsey use the Church to increase his own power?
He got himself loads of top jobs, like Lord Chancellor and Papal Legate, so he was basically
in charge of both Church and state in England.
Analyse the impact of the Amicable Grant on Wolsey’s reputation.
It made him look greedy and careless—people hated the tax and some even rebelled. Henry
had to cancel it, which embarrassed Wolsey.
Explain the main reasons Henry broke with Rome.
He wanted a divorce, but also wanted power and Church money. Religion was part of it, but
politics and money mattered more.
, 2
How far did Thomas Cromwell transform the role of government?
He made it more organised, with proper departments and paperwork. It was way less based
on just who the king liked.
Assess how Cromwell managed to secure Henry’s divorce.
He used Parliament to argue the king had power over the Church in England, not the Pope—
smart legal work that got the job done.
To what extent did Anne Boleyn influence Henry’s break with Rome?
She pushed him towards reformers and helped convince him he didn’t need the Pope. Her
influence definitely mattered early on.
Explain how the Act of Supremacy changed the Church in England.
It made Henry the official head of the Church—not the Pope. So England had its own church
now, still Catholic at first, but under Henry’s control.
Assess why Cromwell arranged Henry’s marriage to Anne of Cleves.
It was mainly to get an alliance with German Protestants, as England needed friends after the
break with Rome.
Henry VIII and his Ministers - GCSE
Edexcel History Exam 2| Question and
Verified Answers 2025/2026| Graded A
Explain how Wolsey’s legal reforms changed the justice system.
He made courts cheaper and more available for poor people, especially through the Court of
Star Chamber.
Assess the reasons why Wolsey failed to get Henry a divorce from Catherine.
The Pope was under pressure from Charles V (Catherine’s nephew), and Wolsey couldn’t
outplay that—even with all his clever arguments.
How did Wolsey use the Church to increase his own power?
He got himself loads of top jobs, like Lord Chancellor and Papal Legate, so he was basically
in charge of both Church and state in England.
Analyse the impact of the Amicable Grant on Wolsey’s reputation.
It made him look greedy and careless—people hated the tax and some even rebelled. Henry
had to cancel it, which embarrassed Wolsey.
Explain the main reasons Henry broke with Rome.
He wanted a divorce, but also wanted power and Church money. Religion was part of it, but
politics and money mattered more.
, 2
How far did Thomas Cromwell transform the role of government?
He made it more organised, with proper departments and paperwork. It was way less based
on just who the king liked.
Assess how Cromwell managed to secure Henry’s divorce.
He used Parliament to argue the king had power over the Church in England, not the Pope—
smart legal work that got the job done.
To what extent did Anne Boleyn influence Henry’s break with Rome?
She pushed him towards reformers and helped convince him he didn’t need the Pope. Her
influence definitely mattered early on.
Explain how the Act of Supremacy changed the Church in England.
It made Henry the official head of the Church—not the Pope. So England had its own church
now, still Catholic at first, but under Henry’s control.
Assess why Cromwell arranged Henry’s marriage to Anne of Cleves.
It was mainly to get an alliance with German Protestants, as England needed friends after the
break with Rome.
