England 1485–1558: the Early Tudors - Unit Y106. All the notes you need to prepare for Section A (30 mark source-based essay) of the of the OCR History A - Early Tudors exam. While this part of the exam involves analysing sources, to hit the top bands students must be able to effectively evaluate...
Theme 1: The stability of the monarchy
Edward VI
● Problems with Henry VIII’s legacy
○ Crown’s financial position weak after wars with France and Scotland
■ Debasement of coinage → inflation worse
● Minority government
○ Problem of minority government
■ Edward was unable to control factional struggles
■ Edward V was 12 upon his succession in 1483 → imprisoned and murdered by protector Richard
■ Other states (eg. France, Scotland) may have looked to exploit the weakness of a minor and
invade
■ England might return to Civil War
○ Edward VI still a child → Henry created regency council of 16 names members
■ They would govern until Edward was old enough
○ However Somerset gained control of Henry VIII’s dry stamp just before his death
■ Created 2 clauses without the king’s knowledge
● Gave council ‘full power and authority’ in making laws
● Could award any gifts he claimed Henry had intended but was not able to make before
his death
■ → Somerset named himself Edward’s protector, and rewarded his supporters
○ Homily on Obedience was published 1547
■ Disobedience towards lawful authority against God’s will
● → more acceptance of Somerset’s protectorship
● England under Somerset
○ Invaded Scotland 1547 to capture Queen Mary of Scots
■ Won Battle of Pinkie
■ Decided to build and garrison a series of forts in south of Scotland
■ However failed to enforce naval blockade against French who brought Mary safely to France.
● Destroyed political objective of war
● Cost over £580,000
● Had to employ 7,000 mercenaries
● Led to threat of French invasion in 1549
○ Finances
■ Expensive foreign policy largely paid for by debasement of the coinage, which raised £537,000
1547-51.
■ Some money raised by dissolution of chantries
■ Somerset still forced into land sales and borrowing from Antwerps
○ Decided to attack enclosure and appointed enclosure commissioners
■ Achieved little apart from raising hope of poor and upsetting landowners
○ Anti-Somerset faction ⇒ Paget (angry that Somerset ignored his advice), Warwick and Wriothesley
● England under Warwick
■ Didn’t assume position of Protector, instead appointed himself Lord President of the Council
■ Secured his power further by removing Somerset and Paget who had been plotting against him
● → executed Somerset in January 1552
○ Foreign Policy
■ Ended wars with France and Scotland
● Expenditure drain of Boulogne ended by Treaty of Boulogne in 1550
● Abandoned remaining Scottish garrisons
○ Finance
■ Ended wars with Scotland and France
● Cut spending on war
● received sum of £133,333 from French
■ Abandoned debasement of the coinage
■ → Resultant reduction in price of basic foodstuffs
● Ensured some of his less popular policies could be pushed with less threat to public
order
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