History War of the Roses: Unit 4

Responses are in full sentences, better to put on lenient marking and check yourself if your answer matches or not

Why were nobles reluctant to depose Henry VI?

Henry was a gentle king and nobles did not feel threatened

Why was Henry eventually deposed?

Maggie’s actions and the parliament of devils in 1459 led to great fear from the Yorkists

If loyalty was important and people wanted to avoid civil war, why did the war of the roses take place? (1)

Personal grievances and arguments could not be controlled

If loyalty was important and people wanted to avoid civil war, why did the war of the roses take place? (2)

Certain people (warwick) with less sense of responsibility and provoked violence

If loyalty was important and people wanted to avoid civil war, why did the war of the roses take place? (3)

unexpected events caused anxiety

If loyalty was important and people wanted to avoid civil war, why did the war of the roses take place? (4)

Nobles wanted to be loyal to henry but feared the consequences of losing

Provide an example of


1. a loose canon in the nobility
2. personal grievances
3. unexpected events
4. a weakness of henry

1. Warwick
2. Neville-percy/courtenay-bonville
3. Rain at the battle of northampton
4. His lack of agency in battle and Lord grey’s betrayal

Five aims of Edward IV

1. win the support of lancastrian nobility
2. win the support of nobles whose families had been killed in battle
3. put an end to feuds
4. inspire confidence
5. create a sense of continuity

retaining armies were forbidden after 1468 but…

this was not enforced

Edward married a lancastrian EW but…

this marriage alienated both Louis XI and Warwick

policy of concilliation but…

fear of opposition

somerset helped recapture alnwick castle but…

he remained a loyal lancastrian

Henry VI was betrayed by local gentry but…

Edward failed to execute him

gave lancastrians their land back but…

took the title of northumberland away from montague, brother of warwick

was generous to lancastrians but…

got usurped in 1470

What were the main issues for edward?

1. lancastrian opposition
2. marriage and an heir
3. justice and order
4. royal finances
5. splendour at court
6. foreign policy
7. relations with the nobility

Who were the three main rivals at the start of ed’s first reign?

1. magaret of anjou
2. henry VI
3. lancastrian nobles

why was disorder on the rise at the end of ed’s first reign?

poor harvests led to unrest exacerbated by warwick, individual family feuds

Why were the people angry about taxes?

Edward had asked for taxes twice for wars against france and scotland but then pocketed the money

why is it important that edward was granted customs duties for life?

This showed parliament believed his reign would last

what did rule by himself mean?

that a king ruled without relying on others

why was the chamber system of finance better?

money went straight to edward, it was harder to embezzle

Who did edward choose to ally with internationally?

Burgundy

why was warwick angry about the alliance with burgundy?

he was involved in pro-french negotiations

Reasons warwick betrayed edward

1. edwards marriage
2. warwicks declining influence
3. edwards determination to rule
4. foreign policy
5. the presence of credible alternatives

why did edward lose the throne?

1. edwards mistakes
2. the earl of warwick
3. the duke of clarence
4. discontent and rebellion
5. louis XI
6. magaret of anjou

Edwards first mistake

The marriage to EW alienated warwick, louis and prevented him from using marriage in foreign policy

Edwards second mistake

Taking away the title of northumberland from montague (warwicks brother) led to him betraying edward

edward’s third mistake

edward allied with burgundy over france, this was popular with the people but it alienated louis and he lost out on an alience with a larger power

what did warwick do in july 1469?

marry his daughter isabelle to clarence in calais, against the king’s wishes

What did warwick and clarence release in 1469?

a manifesto complaing about ‘evil councillors’

what did warwick do upon his return to england in 1469?

Won a victory in edgecote and then killed the queen’s father and brother

After capturing edward, why could warwick not rule the country?

the noble’s would not co-operate with him

Why did warwick release edward?

To deal with an uprising in the north led by nevilles

Who encouraged warwick to join forces with magaret?

Louis XI

Why did the duke of clarence betray edward

he was jealous, bitter about his refused marriage and resented the queen’s family

Four reasons for discontent during edwards first reign

1. parliament had granted two taxes for wars that never happened
2. the counry was in a poor economic state after bad harvests
3. terms in the treaty favoured burgundy
4. warwick and clarence were ‘stirring the pot’

‘the north that brought edward down’ who said this and why?

Christine Carpenter, after there were a series of risings that led to edward angering lord montague, causing his betrayal

how long was warwick on his knees before magaret?

15 minutes

Key reasons why edward could regain the throne in 1471?

1. Henry VI
2. The merchants
3. the lancastrians
4. burgundy
5. lack of opposition

How did Henry VI lead to edward regaining the throne?

he couldnt rule without help, he had promised to help france without consulting parliament, his government had little support

How did the merchants help edward regain his throne?

They refused to lend the govt money

Why were the lancastrians unhappy during henry’s second reign?

they expected their estates back, they thought it would be better to ally with burgundy over france

How did burgundy help Edward get his throne back

he gave him, 5000 crowns, 18 ships, an army of 1500 men

How did edward trick hull and york into letting him in

he claimed he was only back for his dukedom

what do you think was the key reason that edward got his throne back?

(own answer with justification)