CROMWELL AND THE GOVERNMENT (REFORMS)

Question 1

WHAT DID CROMWELL DO?

Answer 1

• Laid the foundation for modern bureaucracy of the government
• Increased the power of Parliament
• Made the collection and spending of money more efficient
• SECURED HIS OWN POWER

Question 2

CROMWELL REFORM 1 - System of government

Answer 2

WHAT HE WANTED TO DO
* Cromwell wanted to make one system of government that was uniform for the whole of Henry’s kingdom.

PROBLEMS
* The North of England had a rich history of autonomy from the rest of England, and had independence (maybe due to Scottish influence)
* Wales was governed separately, despite being under English rule.

SOLUTIONS
* 1536 FRANCHISES AND LIBERTY ACT - The North came under English control, and liberty abolished
* The COUNCIL OF THE NORTH was strengthened (created in 1472)
* ACT OF UNION 1536 - Wales come under English rule officially

Question 3

CROMWELL REFORM 2 - Parliament
(MOST SIGNIFICANT)

Answer 3

WHAT HE WANTED TO DO
* He saw Parliament as a potential medium of great power, as they could pass more laws and could improve the power of England, as well as Henry’s power

PROBLEMS
* Since the reign of Henry III, Parliament was underused and only used for the imposing of new taxes, and was overall kept as a very minor institution

SOLUTIONS
* Parliament met more often and passed more laws (231 acts passed form 1509-1531 to 333 acts passed from 1531-1540)
* Cromwell made them a partner in the government, and that they were used to secure support from others, like the public

SIGNIFICANCE
* Power distributed better as more efficiency
* There was more power for Cromwell, and there were more robust policies
* It balances against the King.

Question 4

CROMWELL REFORM 3 - The Royal Council

Answer 4

PROBLEMS
* The department was usually overpowered by one man e.g Cromwell or Wolsey
* The topics of discussion were not recorded, and there weren’t any official rules set, and there weren’t many people attending meetings

SOLUTIONS
* Cromwell restored the Privy Council in 1540, made up of 19 members, such as nobles and administrators who were trained, unlike previous members
* There was clearer recordings of the topics of discussion, and there wasn’t one man overpowering, as all the members had similar experience

SIGNIFICANCE
* This created a much more systematic system, and ensured the safety of the prestige of the Crown, as there was more experienced and useful members

Question 5

CROMWELL REFORM 4 - The King’s Chamber

Answer 5

PROBLEMS
* Monitoring the King’s Chamber tasks, e.g monitoring expenditure and income bored Henry, so he disregarded its’ importance
* There were no formal rules about how Henry had to manage this, so some accounts weren’t even managed properly
* The Dissolution of Monasteries brought in a lot more money, so there were more tasks to be done, and this didn’t please Henry at all

SOLUTIONS
* THE COURT OF AUGMENTATIONS (1536) dealt with the extra income from the Dissolution, making the burden on Henry much lower
* THE COURT OF FRUITS AND TENTHS (1540) collected taxes from the clergy, which were previously sent to Rome

SIGNIFICANCE
* Money managed much better
* Burden off Henry