Edward and Mary Unrest - History A level OCR Tudor

What social and economic issues were often underlying causes of unrest?

population growth

rising prices

poor harvests

increasing poverty

enclosure

Which rebellions did enclosure play a significant part in?

Kett's rebellion in 1549 and unrest in Northaw in Hertfordshire in 1548

What was the enclosure commission?

A body set up by Somerset and led by Hales to investigate the legality of recent enclosures.

What did the enclosure commission encourage?

It encouraged the peasants to believe the government supported their claims and resulted in some enclosures being torn down.

When was religious unrest first seen under the mid tudors?

1547 and 1548 when William Body attempted to supervise the destruction of images

Under the mid-tudors for the first time since ______ the population was rising

the black death in the fourteenth century

What was the population increase under the mid tudors?

The population rose from 2.3 to 3 million between 1525 and 1551.

What was the impact of the population increase under the mid tudors?

Agricultural productivity was unable to keep pace with the rise and therefore the price of food rose and this meant that when there were bad harvests, of which there were many in the period, it became a serious issue. Grain prices rose faster than other food prices and because it was the staple diet it had an even greater impact.

What was the impact of the structure of the population under the mid tudors?

It was a young population, which meant that many were too young to work, and therefore the dependency ratio increased as many were children who were consumers but not producers.

What were the agricultural problems during the mid-tudors?

Not only was it difficult to increase production levels of grain, as people at the time did not have fertilisers, nor were they aware of crop rotation, but many farmers were also changing from arable to sheep faring as the demand for cloth grew. This created further problems as sheep farming required fewer labourers, and therefore caused unemployment.

How did the government of Somerset attempt to tackle enclosure?

By establishing enclosure commissions in both 1548 and 1549 to look into the problem, but attempts at legislation were blocked by the gentry in parliament as they were gaining from such developments. Somerset issued proclamations to try to force landowners to reverse the development but this lost him the support of the gentry and encouraged the lower order to take action themselves and throw down hedges.

What was the price of food in 1549 compared to 1508?

214%

What caused food prices to rise under the mid tudors?

rising population

greed of landowners

debasement of the currency to finance the wars against France and Scotland in the 1540s

bad harvests - six bad harvests from 1547 to 1558 and those in 1548 and 1549 were little better

Why was the suffering of the poor greater under the mid tudors than the early tudors?

The dissolution of the monasteries had removed the one institution that helped during difficult times.

Why did poverty and vagrancy increase during the mid tudors?

Enclosure had decreased the numbers needed in the workforce and a slump in the cloth trade only added to unemployment. The price rise also meant there was an increase in the number of poor.

Why did the increasing number of poor worry the government and authorities?

It worried the authorities, particularly when large numbers were concentrated together, as they lacked a force to maintain order a prevent crime. The government therefore brought in harsh measures, such as the 1547 Vagrancy Act, which condemned vagrants to slavery.

How many counties were affected by riot and rebellion in the late spring and summer of 1549?

25 counties

What happened before the Western Rebellion that suggests it was religiously motivated?

William Body was murdered at Helston in 1548 when he returned to supervise the destruction of images.

What were the main events in the western rebellion?

A large number gathered at Bodmin to protest about the Act of Uniformity

On Whitsunday 1549 locals protested about the new Prayer book and insisted the priests used the old one

rebels from Devon and Cornwall met at Crediton

the rebels laid siege to Exeter where fears the city would be handed over to the rebels led the mayor to provide poor relief, firewood and food for the poor.

What were the rebels demands in the Western rebellion?

They wanted to restore traditional doctrine and asserted a belief in transubstantiation and purgatory - the demands were drawn up by priests

Initial complaints included an attack on the sheep and cloth tax and a dislike of the local gentry

What actions of the rebels suggested they disliked the local gentry?

Gentry were attacked and robbed at St Micheal's mount

At Bodmin they shouted 'Kill the gentlemen'

They murdered William Hellyons, a local member of the gentry

They attacked Trematon Castle

Who defeated the Western Rebellion?

The dislike of the rebels for the gentry meant that when the rebellion broke out they were unable to restrain the commons and the government had to send a force under Lord John Russell.

Why was Lord Russell slow to deal with the Western Rebellion?

They were slow to deal with the unrest as they had to put down unrest in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire on route.

How did Lord Russell defeat the Western Rebellion?

When they did arrive in the West Country, a number of skirmishes occurred at Fenny Bridges, Clyst St Mary and Clyst Heath, before the rebels were finally defeated at Sampford Courtenay.

How many rebels were killed at Sampford Courtenay?

3000

How did Kett's rebellion begin?

The unrest began as enlosure riots in the towns of Attleborough and Wymondham. The rioters were angry that a local lawyer, John Flowerdew, had bought the local abbey church and begun to enclose the land. He attempted to turn the rebels against Kett, who also had enclosed land, but he quickly turned the rebels against Flowerdew.

What were the main events in Kett's rebellion?

Kett raised 16,000 men who marched to Norwich and set up a camp on Mousehold Heath

The rebels were offered a pardon but this failed to disperse them

The rebels seized norwich

How was Kett's rebellion defeated?

The government sent a force under the Marquis of Northampton, but it was defeated and therefore the Duke of Northumberland was sent, His force massacred the rebels at Dussindale outside Norwich, killing some 3000. Kett was hanged for treason but many rebels were treated leniently.

What were the rebels demands in Kett's rebellion?

1) Agricultural demands: concern about enclosure, particularly of saffron grounds, gentry abuse of the foldcourse system and their overstocking of common land

2) Economic concerns: rising rents

3) Social grievances: the gentry's manipulation of local government

4) Religious concerns: they wanted better preachers and further reform

What was the foldcourse system?

A system by which cattle and sheep are allowed on land where crops are grown to fertilise it.

What political issues caused the Lady Jane Grey plot?

When Northumberland's son married Lady Jane Grey in May 1553 the health of Edward was such that it was believed that he would live for a long time. This suggests that Northumberland had not been plotting to further his political career. It was Edward's declining health that changed the situation. The change to the devise made Northumberland became the father in law of the prospective queen.

Why were religious issues the main cause of the Lady Jane Grey plot?

Edward was a strong protestant and was concerned by his Catholic half sister Mary taking the throne.

Who did Northumberland think would support him after the Lady Jane Grey plot?

The elite as he had restored stability after the failings of Somerset's rule and many would want that to continue. It could also be argued that those who had gained land from the Dissolution of the Monasteries might support him as they could lose those lands if there was a Catholic restoration.

How was Northumberland a threat to Mary? How did Mary make herself a bigger threat to him?

Northumberland was able to have Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queen and, if he had been able to capture Mary before she fled to East Anglia, the plot might have succeeded. Northumberland initially had the support of the Privy Council but Mary, by raising a force, proclaiming herself queen, issuing proclamations, letters of summons and asking Charles V for help, raised the possibility of civil war.

How did the Lady Jane Grey plot fail?

Northumberland was forced to leave London to confront Mary and this allowed members of the Privy Council the chance to reconsider their views. Many changed their opinion and gave their support to Mary, while Northumberland failed to gain support as he marched east, with some of his own force deserting. This forced him to abandon his march, retreat to Cambridge and proclaim Mary queen.

What was the aftermath of the Lady Jane Grey plot?

Mary released Gardiner and Norfolk from jail

She appointed Paget to the privy council

Northumberland, Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley were arrested

Northumberland was soon executed, with the others following later

What is the evidence that the Wyatt rebellion was politically motivated?

The hatred of foreigners meant the planned marriage of Mary to Philip was hated

Stories circulated that the court would be dominated by Spaniards, Mary would be ruled over by her husband and England would be dragged into Hasburg conflicts that did not benefit England.

What is the evidence for Wyatt's rebellion being religiously motivated?

The leaders of the four pronged attack had protestant sympathies

The area around Maidstone where he had the most support was Protestant

Wyatt recieved advice from the deprived Protestant Bishop of Winchester

No prominent member of the plot was Catholic

On reaching London, the rebels attacked the property of the newly restored Catholic bishop of Winchester.

What is the evidence for Wyatt's rebellion being economically motivated?

The Kent cloth industry was in decline

Why did only Kent rebel in Wyatt's rebellion?

The court was aware of the plot and examined Edward Courtenay, who the plotters were going to marry to Elizabeth. He revealed most of the details and forced the rebels to act before they were fully prepared. This meant instead of the four pronged attack, just Kent could rebel.

Who was Wyatt and why did he rebel?

He had been a loyal supporter of the Tudors and supported Mary against Lady Jane Grey. He was fearful he would lose his position and influence with the arrival of large numbers of foreigners.

What happened during Wyatt's rebellion?

Wyatt was able to gather a force of some 3000 men but instead of marching straight to London he laid seige to Cooling Castle, near Rochester. This gave Mary time to rally her forces and with a rallying speech at Guildhall bring the rebellion to an end.

Why was Wyatt's rebellion a threat to Mary?

Troops sent to deal with Wyatt changed sides, crying 'We are all Englishmen'

Many waited to see what would happen and did not initially support Mary

The rising had been close to London

What was the aftermath of Wyatt's rebellion?

The lack of punishment following the revolt suggests that Mary feared that further punishment would provoke more unrest and may explain why both Elizabeth and Courtenay weren't executed.

The failure of the rebellion may have caused a change in outlook and made most realise that rebellion was futile so strengthened the regime.

What saved Mary during the Wyatt rebellion?

Her speech at Guildhall which flattered her supporters after she ignored her Council's advice to leave London.