What three main challenges did Henry VII face when he became king?
- He needed money (running a kingdom is expensive)
- He needed foreign allies (in case England was threatened)
- He needed supporters in England
How did Henry VII get money from those who fought against him?
He fined some of the people who fought against him and took away their land.
How did Henry make money from new foreign allies?
When he signed a treaty (agreement) with a foreign country, he demanded a payment from them
How did Henry use the tax system to make money?
Henry employed some clever men to look up old taxes and laws. He fined people who had been avoiding these laws or not paying their taxes.
Why was there so much money to be made from taxes and fines?
There had been many years of war so lots of people hadn’t been obeying these rules.
How did Henry make money from his nobles?
Sometimes he demanded his nobles lend him money
How did Henry get money from cities?
He demanded that cities raise money for him.
Give an example of when a city raised money for Henry
In 1492 London raised £9000 to pay for Henry’s war with France
Was Henry’s approach to getting money universally popular?
No - lots of people disliked it.
What did Sir Francis Bacon say about Henry VII?
That he was feared and respected - but not loved.
How much money did Henry VII leave to his son, Henry VIII?
£4,500,000 - an unbelievably large sum in that time
Who did Henry sign a treaty with in 1492?
Charles VIII, King of France
What did the 1492 treaty with France mean?
The 1492 treaty meant there was peace between England and France
What did Henry VII do about Ireland?
He extended English control over Ireland. This meant all news Irish laws had to be agreed by Henry VII. It also meant all English laws would apply in Ireland.
Who did Henry VII signed a trade treaty with?
Flanders (now in Belgium)
What did Henry VII’s trade treaty mean?
That England could trade with Flanders and make some money.
Who did Henry VII marry his son, Arthur, to?
A Spanish princess (Catherine of Aragon).
Who did Henry VII marry his daughter, Margaret, to?
James IV of Scotland
Why were these marriages to important?
They meant that Spain and Scotland were much less likely to attack England.
Overall, did Henry succeed in his foreign policy?
Yes:
- He took steps so that Scotland, France, Ireland and Spain were less likely to attack England
- He didn’t fight any expensive major wars
- His reign was mostly peaceful
What was the main way Henry VII aimed to get support in England?
People were fed up of war so he aimed to get their support by ensuring peace was kept and that laws were obeyed.
What were the Justices of the Peace?
Important local people who were given the chance to run their neighborhood and make sure laws were being obeyed.
What was the Court of Star Chamber?
The most powerful court in the land
What did Henry VII give to the Court of Star Chamber?
More powers - such as torture - to deal with rebellion and lawlessness.
What did the increased powers of the Court of Star Chamber mean?
It meant that problems in England were dealt with quickly. This meant lots of people enjoyed Henry being king.
How did Henry get support from nobles?
Henry executed most of the nobles who fought against him (or he took away their power).
What did Henry’s firm dealing with nobles mean?
It meant that the only nobles with any power were ones who supported Henry VII
Overall, what did people think of Henry VII?
They thought he was a tough king. They either liked that or feared it.
