Economic Policy and Rebellions

Question 1

3 factors for the economic discontent under Somersets reign

Answer 1

• pressures from inflation
• agrarian issues (bad harvests and enclosures)
• taxation

Question 2

what happened to inflation under Somerset and what was the impact of this?

Answer 2

it increased rapidly so led to reduction in wages particularly for lower class

Question 3

what caused even more inflation under Somerset?

Answer 3

the debasement of the coinage and poor harvests

Question 4

why did Somerset debase the coinage?

Answer 4

in order to fund wars against Scotland

Question 5

What did writer John Hales (who influenced Somerset) say about inflation

Answer 5

root cause of many of the countries social and economic problems

Question 6

how much money did Somerset raise from debasement?

Answer 6

£537,000

Question 7

when was the poor harvest under Somerset?

Answer 7

1548

Question 8

what was the impact of the enclosure commissioners Somerset had issued

Answer 8

little achieved apart from raising expectations of the poor :( and annoying landowners

Question 9

taxation caused great discontent under Somerset but why did he continue this

Answer 9

to fund foreign policy in Scotland

Question 10

how else was the Scottish wars financed?

Answer 10

by land sales and borrowing of money

Question 11

why did Somerset introduce a tax on sheep?

Answer 11

to deter Enclosure

since he thought the main driver of enclosure was profits gained from converting from arable to pastures

Question 12

why did grazing sheep provide money

Answer 12

wool and cloth for export market !!

Question 13

what was the main effect of Somersets taxation on sheep instead of deterring enclosure

Answer 13

pressure on small farmers in upland areas who were forced to graze sheep for subsistence

Question 14

how did northumberland stabilise national finances

Answer 14

he brought an end to wars against Scotland and France

Question 15

what did the French pay for

Answer 15

Boulogne returned to them

Question 16

how much did the French pay to have Boulogne returned to them

Answer 16

£133,333

Question 17

how many times did Northumberland debase the coinage

Answer 17

once before abandoning the practice

Question 18

example of an unscrupulous (not honest or fair) method northumberland used to improve finances

Answer 18

melting down church plate for bullion

Question 19

when were the major rebellions

Answer 19

1549

Question 20

before 1549 what were the rebellions like

Answer 20

small, unorganised rebellions that were no threat due to insufficient support or prompt action from local nobility

Question 21

what were the 3 main reasons for unrest and disorder

Answer 21

• religious changes
• resentment of taxation
• enclosures

Question 22

where was the western rebellion

Answer 22

Devon and Cornwall

Question 23

what phrase was used to describe western rebellion

Answer 23

‘prayer book rebellion’

Question 24

how did the western rebellion rebels describe the new book of common prayer

Answer 24

‘Christmas game’

Question 25

what did the western rebellions want to achieve

Answer 25

reversed religious reform
- since traditional rituals and churchs wider role in community gone

also disliked the sheep tax - ignorant govt

Question 26

how long did western rebellion last

Answer 26

jun 1549 - august 1549
72 days !

Question 27

Ketts rebellion lasted how long

Answer 27

July 1549 - august 1549
50 days

Question 28

What were the 3 significances of the Western Rebellion?

Answer 28

The rebellion was put down.

Martial law (military government) was used to deal with the rebels. This indicates how dangerous the situation was.

Somerset’s position in government was seriously weakened.

Question 29

how many rebels killed in ketts rebellion

Answer 29

3,000

Question 30

what date was ketts rebellion put down

Answer 30

27th august

Question 31

what date was western rebellion put down

Answer 31

17th august

Question 32

what 2 factors caused ketts rebellion

Answer 32

• hatred of local govt officials
• resentment of abuse by landowners of the Norfolk foldcoourse system

Question 33

what was the Norfolk foldcourse

Answer 33

foldcourse was right to graze sheep on enclosed land and in many Norfolk villages these rights were held by peasant farmers
but some landowners withheld this and caused peasant discontent

Question 34

what did the rebels want (ketts rebellion)

Answer 34

for govt to act on reform that they thought had been made from Somerset about enclosures

Question 35

what did the ketts rebels do to try achieve this

Answer 35

camped at Mousehold Heath just outside Norwich where their leader Robert Kett managed to maintain order and discipline and negotiate with civic authorities