Edward Flashcards

Question

What were the political triggers for Kett's Rebellion?

Answer 1

Rebels saw Somerset as being on their side due to his policies against enclosure - gave people confidence to rebel as they believed they had the protector's support Bad government in East Anglia - Inability to resolve local problems so rebels appealed directly to the central gvmt Rebellion led by people just outside the governing class - ambitious for power?

Answer 2

'Class war' between landowning gentry class and their tenants - gentry blamed for the suffering of their tenants (enclosure + rack-renting) which resulted in depopulated villages, unemployment, vagrancy, and hunger Hatred of particular individuals - First fences and hedges to be uprooted were those of John Flowerdew (lawyer and landowner known for his greed who oversaw the demolition of Wymondham Abbey)

Answer 3

Calls for more competent and involved clergy - Concern over poor quality of priests and failure to fulfil their duties - Requests that they do more to educate the poor + act as priests for the whole community, not just the gentry Rebels had Protestant beliefs - Encouraged by writings of Ridley+ Latimer (who wanted fairness for the commons) - Demand for congregations to choose their own clergy

Answer 4

Not aiming to overthrow the monarchy or march on London - protesting against the gentry class and actually believed the monarchy was on their side As the rebellion was Protestant it supported the religious change under Edward No foreign support

Answer 5

Kett was a strong leader - rebellion was well-organised Widespread support, 16,000 rebels Slow gvmt reaction due to preoccupation with foreign countries eg. Scotland

Answer 6

21st June: York Herald offered a a full pardon to those who dispersed - many wanted to accept but Kett rejected it, insisting they had committed no crime 30th July: Somerset sent small army of ~1800 under the command of the Marquis of Northampton. They occupied Norwich and (unsuccessfully) attempted negotiating with the rebels, but Kett fought back and recaptured Norwich. Northampton's interference had actually worsened the rebellion and created a crisis - point where the protest turned into a rebellion. 23rd August: Northumberland (Earl of Warwick at the time) arrived outside Norwich with 12,000 men 27th August: Northumberland (supported by an extra 1,000 foreign mercenaries) slaughtered 3000 rebels and arrested Kett

Answer 7

East Anglia was the most densely populated and highly industrialised part of the country. After London, Norwich was the 2nd biggest city in the country and a major textile centre. A collapse in the textile industry had, however, thrown large numbers of cloth workers out of work, and many independent small farmers were being badly affected by the enclosure of wooded pastoral areas by gentry and yeoman farmers

Answer 8

The coup which removed Protector Somerset was made directly possible by Somerset's handling of the rebellions - Failure to quickly crush the rebellions + Somerset's support of anti-enclosure measures had (disastrously) earned him the reputation of 'friend of the commons' Northumberland's successful military suppression of Kett's Rebellion added to his own political credibility and status, which he used to gain extra support for his bid to become ruler in January 1550

Answer 9

Virtually no attempt at cooperation or synchronisation between the isolated uprisings - Some uniting of forces within regions (eg. Devon + Cornwall joined forces) but no attempts at cross-regional cooperation Not directed at the gvmt or monarch + no attempt to march on London Gvmt was always in control of its forces and was never in danger Significant lack of aristocratic and gentry leadership

Answer 10

In some cases (notably Norfolk, Devon + Cornwall), local gentry failed to deal with the uprisings and the central government had to intervene Gvmt struggled to raise troops (difficult+ expensive). Russell had to raise troops from distant counties and the gvmt had to employ foreign mercenaries Somerset had to bring troops back from Scotland to assist in the crisis - marked the end of his policy of guarding the Northern border to protect against Scotland

Answer 11

Pushed England into a difficult position in regard to foreign policy - Need for troops forced Somerset to tone down his policy of garrisoning (defending) the Scottish border + France took advantage of England's internal domestic turmoil by declaring war in the summer Resulted in the overthrowing of Somerset, a well-established ruler. Significant loss of life - around 10,000 Mobilised tens of thousands of angry commoners across the country and took the gvmt's resources near to breaking point BUT, rebellions weren't threatening in a political way and didn't aim to overthrow any member of the gvmt or ruling family