Causes Off Kett’s Rebellion 1949 Flashcards
(28 cards)
What were enclosure practices, and how did they contribute to Kett’s Rebellion?
Enclosure involved landowners fencing off common land for sheep farming, which displaced tenant farmers, causing unemployment, homelessness, and increased poverty, which fueled resentment and rebellion.
How did the shift from arable farming to pastoral farming impact the rural poor?
The shift to sheep farming, due to the demand for wool from Europe, reduced the need for farm laborers. This worsened unemployment and poverty for rural laborers, leading to social unrest.
What role did high food prices and poor harvests play in the socio-economic causes of the rebellion?
Poor harvests between 1545 and 1549 led to widespread food shortages, rising food prices, and starvation, which intensified the suffering of the poor and increased social discontent.
What was the impact of the Vagrancy Act of 1547 on the poor?
The Vagrancy Act branded able-bodied unemployed people with a “V” and sold them into slavery for two years. This law punished the poor, including those made homeless by enclosure, increasing tensions between the lower classes and the ruling elite.
How did the Vagrancy Act relate to the socio-economic climate in 1549?
The Vagrancy Act reflected elite fears of disorder and was part of the harsh treatment of the poor, further deepening class divisions and sparking anger among the lower classes, especially those displaced by enclosure.
How did inflation contribute to the socio-economic causes of Kett’s Rebellion?
Rising inflation, particularly in food prices, increased the economic hardship for the poor. The rising cost of living added to the frustration of the lower classes and contributed to their desire for change.
What was the effect of the shift to wool production on the need for farm laborers?
As wool production became more profitable and land was converted to sheep farming, fewer farm laborers were needed, contributing to rising unemployment, especially among the rural poor, who had once worked in arable farming.
How did the government’s policies toward enclosure worsen the situation for the poor?
The government’s investigation into illegal enclosures, although aimed at protecting the poor, inadvertently encouraged more protests and led to increased tensions between landlords and the lower classes, contributing to the rebellion.
How did the corruption and inefficiency of local government contribute to Kett’s Rebellion?
The gentry and local elites were often corrupt, exploiting the commons. People sought reforms in local governance, removal of corrupt officials, and better treatment of the poor. Officials like escheators and feodaries, who exploited the legal system, were targeted by the rebels.
Who were the escheators and feodaries, and why were they targeted during Kett’s Rebellion?
Escheators controlled land when someone died without an heir, and feodaries oversaw land tenure. Both were seen as corrupt officials exploiting the legal system, making them prime targets for the rebels who demanded reforms and justice.
Who was Sir John Flowerdew, and why did he become a target in Kett’s Rebellion?
Sir John Flowerdew was resented for enclosing land, exploiting church property, and stripping lead from Wymondham Abbey’s roof. He was seen as a greedy outsider and symbol of the corrupt, detached gentry, making him a key target for the rebels.
How did Sir John Flowerdew’s actions fuel the anger of the common people during Kett’s Rebellion?
His actions, such as enclosing land and exploiting church property, angered locals, leading to his fences being torn down by the rebels at the start of the rebellion. He became a symbol of corrupt gentry.
How did Sir John Flowerdew’s actions directly provoke rebellion?
Reformers like John Hales, Hugh Latimer, and Robert Crowley criticized enclosure and believed the wealthy had a Christian duty to support the poor. Their ideas influenced both Somerset’s policies and the rebels, who called for social justice, fairer treatment, and reform of land ownership.
How did the beliefs of the commonwealth-men shape the demands of Kett’s Rebellion?
The commonwealth-men’s criticisms of enclosure and support for the poor gave the rebellion a moral purpose. The rebels, influenced by these ideas, called for fairer treatment, social justice, and reforms in land ownership.
Who were the common wealth men
reformers like John Hales, Hugh Latimer, and Robert Crowley
What were Somerset’s enclosure commissions, and when were they initiated?
They were government inquiries launched in 1548 to investigate and address grievances about enclosure, especially in the Midlands.
Who led the 1548 enclosure commissions and what was his goal?
John Hales led the commissions, aiming to reduce social discontent caused by enclosure and defend the rights of the poor.
Why did the enclosure commissions face strong resistance?
Landowners practicing enclosure opposed them, and in places like Buckinghamshire, commissioners were harassed and riots broke out in support of enclosure.
Why were the outcomes of the enclosure commissions limited?
Local elites often ignored or obstructed the findings, and there were few consequences for illegal enclosures, leaving many people dissatisfied.
What was the 1548 wool tax and what were its aims?
A 5% levy on all wool sales introduced by Somerset to raise money and discourage enclosure by targeting the profits of sheep farming.
Which groups were most negatively affected by the wool tax?
Poorer individuals, especially small-scale farmers and rural cloth workers.
How did wealthier landowners respond to the wool tax?
Many evaded the tax, avoiding its impact while resentment grew among poorer communities.
How did the wool tax contribute to the causes of Kett’s Rebellion?
It deepened existing economic and social grievances in rural areas heavily dependent on the wool trade.
Overall, why did government efforts under Somerset fail to prevent unrest?
His reforms were poorly enforced, faced elite resistance, disproportionately harmed the poor, and failed to meaningfully address enclosure and economic distress.
