A-Level History Course Guide: Rebellion and Disorder Under the Tudors (1485–1603)

A-Level History Course Guide: Rebellion and Disorder Under the Tudors (1485–1603)

Overview of Course Structure

  • A-Level Paper Options

    • 1E: Russia, 1917-91: Lenin to Yeltsin (30%)

    • 2E.1: Mao’s China, 1949-76 (20%)

    • Paper 3: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603 (30%)

    • Coursework: Historical Enquiry (20%)

Assessment Guidelines

  • Monitoring Classwork

    • Booklets are collected once per half term to check reading and end-of-lesson reviews.

    • Feedback includes comments on checked notebooks with post-it notes.

  • Self-Assessment

    • Students reflect on marking and feedback after essays.

  • Formal Assessments

    • KS5 end-of-unit tests, graded with teacher comments; self-assessed by students.

Key Content Areas for Paper 3

  • Thematic Overview:

    • Controlling a fractious nation: Changes in Tudor government, 1485–1603.

      • Unit 1: Changes in Governance at the Centre

      • Government and administration changes (1485–1603) including:

        • Structure and function of the royal household.

        • Role of the Secretary and establishment of Lord Lieutenants.

        • Reform of the Privy Council from 1540 and its implications.

  • Unit 2: Gaining Cooperation of the Localities

    • Engaging local governance (1485–1603): Includes key developments like:

    • Re-establishment of the Council of the North (1537).

    • Legal reforms (Law in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542).

    • Impact of increasing borough representation in Parliament.

  • Unit 3: Challenges to Authority (1485–1603)

    • Henry VII: manage warring factions and suppress rebellion (e.g., Lambert Simnel, Perkin Warbeck).

    • Henry VIII: Religious conflicts (e.g., Kett's Rebellion, Pilgrimage of Grace).

    • Elizabeth I: The Northern Rising (1569) and the Nine Years’ War (Tyrone’s Rebellion, 1594–1603).

Key Monarchs and Rebellions

  • Henry VII (1485–1509)

    • Focus on the legitimacy of claimants such as:

    • Lambert Simnel (1486-87)

      • Role as an impostor claiming to be the Earl of Warwick.

      • Supported by Yorkists and Irish nobility.

      • Defeated by Henry VII at the Battle of Stoke (1487).

    • Perkin Warbeck (1491-1499)

      • Claimed to be Richard, Duke of York.

      • Supported by foreign powers like Margaret of Burgundy.

      • Failed invasions and lack of sustained support led to his capture.

  • Henry VIII (1509–1547)

    • Notable rebellions:

    • Kett’s Rebellion (1549)

      • Against enclosures and rising prices.

      • Led by Robert Kett, aimed to restore rights and address grievances regarding wealth inequality.

      • Government responses included brutal suppressions.

    • Pilgrimage of Grace (1536)

      • A popular revolt against the dissolution of monasteries.

      • Articulated by Robert Aske and supported by various social classes.

  • Elizabeth I (1558–1603)

    • Northern Earls’ Revolt (1569)

    • Catholic rebellion to place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne.

    • Key figures included Northumberland and Westmorland.

    • Resulted in harsher policies against Catholics.

    • Nine Years’ War (Tyrone's Rebellion, 1594–1603)

    • Resulted from Irish resistance against English rule influenced by grievances over land and religion.

Course Key Terms and Definitions

  • Tudor Parliament: Highest legislative body, consisting of the Sovereign, House of Lords, and House of Commons.

  • Accession: The attainment of a position of power or rank.

  • Rebellion: Armed resistance to an established government.

  • Act of Supremacy (1534): Made Henry VIII head of the Church of England.

  • Pilgrimage of Grace (1536): A mass rebellion against religious change and power consolidation in England.

  • Statute of Artificers (1563): Regulated wages and employment to tackle poverty.

  • Vagrancy Act (1547): Established severe penalties for able-bodied vagrants.

  • Council of the North: Administrative body established to manage local governance and maintain order.

  • Justices of the Peace (JPs): Local magistrates responsible for maintaining law and order, managing poor relief, and presiding over local courts.

Significant Events and Outcomes

  • Henry VII's Reign

    • Focus on consolidating power against Yorkist rivals, asserting legal monarchy through marriage alliances and rewarding loyal supporters.

    • Managing implications of rebellion and securing social order via legislative actions.

  • Henry VIII's Religious Reformation

    • Break from Rome led to shifts in doctrine, with gradual moves toward Protestantism causing widespread unrest and rebellion.

    • Significant acts such as the dissolution of monasteries, leading to social upheaval and economic demand for stability.

  • Elizabeth I's Governance

    • Navigation of complex factional dynamics and the repercussions of rebellion within both Catholic and Protestant spheres marked by shifts in power and noble loyalties.

    • Government responses included both conciliatory measures and assertions of royal authority to maintain control amidst societal conflicts.