Government essay Change Vs Continuity

Question 1

most signficantt change in Henrys govt?

Answer 1

1. the role of the nobility

• undermined by normal people appointed of Woolsey (1515) and Cromwell after Woolsey death (1530) ➡️ both had working class backgrounds
• Woolsey as lord chancellor ➡️ close relation with Henry, partner rather than servant
• Cromwell as chief minister, influential role with the break of Rome
  ➡️ revolutionary change, Henry more susceptible to higher powers

Ex: decision made by sole chief minister rather than group of nobles with conflicting views and little influence demonstrates that there was revolutionary change within H govt making it more to susceptible to manipulation by higher powers ➡️ H not as powerful as he could be

Question 2

another significant change in Henrys govt? (2)

Answer 2

2. structural change

• councillor govt broke down in 1514 (impulsive H vs councillors) + brought to an end by Cromwell
• privy council ruled govt but councillor govt came back in 1540 (no calibre of Cromwell or Woolsey)
• break with Rome (1534) by sir Thomas Moore (intellectual justification + satis coripsa to justify divorce)
• independent nation established (no area of govt outside its control, Rome no longer authority of the church) ➡️ sovereign state established which removed all external authority putting H at the centre of govt (no other monarch had been)
• authority > succession + church previously beyond its control

Question 3

another significant change in Henrys govt? (3)

Answer 3

3. Henry’s involvement and attitude to govt:

• originally held all power (forefront) but let others do mundane tasks
• undoubted right to control decision making as he became more attuned + surrounded with like minded couriers to reinforce suspicion of the ‘old guard’
• impressed by Woolsey’s successful campaign against France who then came to influence H
• Henry lost power that he once held in govt ➡️ factionalism in the govt generally (due to absence + ill health)

Question 4

another significant change in Henrys govt? (4)

Answer 4

4. Role of Parliament:

• ❗️ before 1529 parliaments met four times as Wolsey reluctant to use
• Cromwell used extensively ➡️ exploited its legislative possibilities more ie. met more frequently
• reformation parliament (1529-1536) fundamentally changed nature of English parliament (summoned to settle his great matter ➡️ divorce + church)
• 1533 onwards Cromwell passed a series acts of parliament to achieve break from Rome + establish royal supremacy eg. Act of Restraint of Appeals + Act of succession
• later used to secure extraordinary revenue eg. Invasion of France + Scotland in 1540s

Question 5

most significant continuity?

Answer 5

1. nobles still exercised considerable power

• privy council still gained priority during H’s reign, important figures of William Crompton and Henry Norris (but 1519 Woolsey secured removal of some members, they were allowed back in)
• privy chamber also remained with prestige and influence (Woolsey couldn’t control)
• local councils giving regional power and authority eg council of the North H delegated power to nobles to ensure peace
• privy council remained significant base of power despite Woolsey and Cromwell

Question 6

another significant continuity ? (2)

Answer 6

2. return of the councillor approach

• present at beginning of the reign (1509-1514), inherited from father (incl Lovell and Bishop Richard Fox)
• H became annoyed at lack of (senior)support for French war + became attuned
• impressed by woolsey who was bale to raise £322,000 in subsidies and £240,000 in clerical tax
• after Cromwells fail in 1540 councillor govt returned n a new form as a new privy council emerged with fixed memberships and recorded proceedings
• no choice but to restore traditional method of govt 🔔concillar govt played vital role in Henry’s govt

Ex: return to councillor approach implies that drastic changes were not always successful, therefore argue that not fundamental change

Question 7

another significant change to govt? (3)

Answer 7

3. parliament still dependent on the king

• although power extended during Henry’s reign it was still dependent on him
• parliament could not sit without being called by Henry
• Henry could still rule by proclamation (declaration he has said)