HISTORY A LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
2024
Section A – northern rebellion, henry VIII or Henry VII, Ireland? , Section B – ketts, henry VIII religious changes, simnel
Warbeck, Section c – economic legislation in localities, council of north, central govt institutions
2023
Section A – assess the value of the source for revealing the causes of ketts rebellion and the extent of the threat that
the rebellion posed to the government
Section B – the revolt of the northern earls was caused more by personal ambition than religious convictions, how far
do you agree? OR to what extent was the duration of Tyrone’s rebellion a consequence of English weaknesses and
mistakes?
Intro: agree, the earls had uncoordinated aims, both were reluctant to revolt for differing reasons and had to be
convinced to rebel it was overall the fact that they resented the decline in the traditional power and privileges of the
nobility under Elizabeth and they used the guise of religion to achieve this.
Para1: personal ambition, the court plot that emerged had its roots in removing Cecil as the queens adviser, as well
as the fact that he was seemingly pulling England into a war with Spain, the nobles also had resentment for the
influence that had with the queen as well as other protestant nobles taking their positions, this also economically
had an impact upon them, Elizabeth’s appointment of protestants in key posts. Earl of Westmoreland was the
brother-in-law of the duke of Norfolk, he expected increased patronage and favours from the marriage.
Para2: religious convictions, the earl of Northumberland initially was against the marriage as he wanted the religion
of England to be reinstated as Catholicism, he felt the marriage of Mary to someone who was nominally protestant
would not achieve this, also rebels actions at Durham cathedral holding catholic mass
Para3: arrival of Mary queen of Scots, therefore religious in nature as she was a catholic figurehead around which
they could rally.
Section C – the Elizabethan religious settlement was the most important development in church state relationships in
the years 1485-1603 OR in the years 1485-1603 the most successful use of patronage to support royal government
came in the reign of Henry VIII
Intro: disagree, it was the Henrician reformation which was the most important development in church state
relationship, through the acts that he enforced he fully separated from the church in Rome and the Papacy which
was a huge break from the past, his policies were strictly enforced and despite under Mary there being a slight
reversal through her renouncing the act of supremacy her reign was not long enough for relations to be repaired, the
process that Henry went through was thorough and final unlike the conciliatory nature of Elizabeths religious
settlement, Elizabeths settlement failed to take root especially evidenced through the northern rebellion, although
Henry also had rebellions under his reign they were not due to a lax religious settlement.
Para1: Elizabethan religious settlement, act of supremacy and act of uniformity, conciliatory in nature, however it
could be seen as the most significant as she was excommunicated in 1570 by the pope which led to Catholics being
called upon to defy her suggesting that her reaction to religious rising created a more significant impact in church
state relations.
Para2: henry the seventh, cordial relationships however a precedent was set for conflict with Henry the eighth
religious settlement and separation, dissolution, Cromwell as vicegerent in spirituals.
Para3: Edwards changes and Marys changes, Edwards simply progressed the reformation that had already been put
into place by Henry and Mary’s change was not long lasting and her persecution of Catholics increased anti catholic
sentiment perhaps strengthening the break with Rome
, 2022
TU
Section A – assess the value of the source for revealing the reasons for the appointment of the earl of Essex as lord
lieutenant in Ireland and the way he conducted the 1599 campaign against Tyrone’s rebellion
Section B – By 1487 Henry had fully secured his position on the throne of England OR To what extent was the unrest
in Lincolnshire and the north during the years 1536-37 caused by religious change?
Intro: This essay will argue that although Henry took measures to secure his throne upon succession such as his
marriage to Elizabeth of York and his use of rewards and punishments which partially secured his position it can be
argued that it was not fully secure until after the threat of Perkin Warbeck and challengers to the throne had been
eliminated which was not until 1499.
Para1: against, simnels threat, military victory battle of stoke, defeat of de la Pole, medina del campo, despite this
Henry still had the challenge of Warbeck whose challenge lasted for a longer period of time, and he had far more
significant foreign backing. 1495 landing at deal Kent, 1496 1400 from Scotland failed again, foreign aid suggests that
his position on the throne was not secure as it was disputed by many.
Para2: for, lack of domestic support for rebels demonstrated security, suggests despite challenges Henry was pretty
much secure, how he achieved this, marriage to EOY, heir, rewards and punishments etc…
Para3: Cornish tax revolt showed he was still vulnerable, if Warbeck had arrived in time to harness the momentum of
this it may have been a greater threat, combined with challenges from Warbeck in 1497 300 soldiers in Cornwall,
foreign aid and backing, after he was captured and imprisoned and then hung pretenders and challengers had now
been dealt with and his position was now increasingly secure, due to his weak claim it could be argued his position
was never really secured however.
Intro: mainly caused by religious grievances, the impact of dissolution and Henrician reformation, seen through the
content of the articles written by the rebels and their demands as well as the nature of their protests, although it can
be argued that economic and political causes also played a part these factors perhaps explain the widespread nature
of rebellion as well as the involvement of certain members of the gentry the main body of the rebellion, the
commons were propelled to rebel by religious grievances suggesting religious change was the main cause for unrest
in Lincolnshire and the north.
Para1: religious causes, Cromwell appointed vicegerent in spirituals, dissolution as spark in Louth, religious nature of
POG through, 5 wounds of Christ, pilgrimage, peaceful nature emulating catholic rite, the Pontefract articles 9/24
were religious in nature
Para2: political – dislike of advisers such as Cromwell and Richard rich but still ultimately due to their religious
policies, involvement of the gentry explained by act of uses 1535
Para3: economic causes, 1534 subsidy government intervention to collect the subsidy, as well as visitations of the
clergy for religious reasons such as dissolution. bad harvests and poor weather, enclosure and rack renting, entry
fines were also evidenced within the rebels grievances.
Section C – the role of secretary was central to Tudor government throughout the years 1485-1603 OR In the years
1485-1603 the law in Wales act 1535 and 1542 were of minor significance in the maintenance of royal control of the
localities.
Intro: disagree, it was not a central role consistently throughout this time period, after Cromwell the position was
split between two people and it did not gain the same prestige and importance as it had under Cromwell, largely on
purpose to prevent any one person from possessing the influence that he exercised. The position was somewhat
revived under Elizabeth through Cecil and Walsingham however still to claim that any of these figures had been
central could be debated due to the it ultimately being the monarch who was central to the final governmental
decisions despite being able to be influenced by those around him.
Para1: Cromwell and the position under him, central or not?
