SOCIETY

Question 1

When was the Yorkshire Rebellion?

Answer 1

1489

Question 2

What was the Yorkshire Rebellion caused by?

Answer 2

Issues financing troops in Brittany

Question 3

What happened during the Yorkshire Rebellion?

Answer 3

Earl of Northumberland was murdered due to resentment against taxation and deserted by retainers as punishment for desertion of Richard III at Bosworth.

Question 4

How was the Yorkshire Rebellion suppressed?

Answer 4

After the Earl’s assassination, a royal army was deployed in May 1489.

Question 5

How threatened was Henry VII by the Yorkshire Rebellion?

Answer 5

Rebels received a royal pardon, and no further taxes were collected. There are no further writings about it.

Question 6

When was the Cornish Rebellion?

Answer 6

1497

Question 7

What was the Cornish Rebellion caused by?

Answer 7

Financing war with Scotland

Question 8

How was the Cornish Rebellion suppressed?

Answer 8

Henry withdrew Lord Daubney and his troops from defending the Scottish border. Rebel leaders, including Lord Audley, were executed, while others were treated with conspicuous leniency.

Question 9

How threatened was Henry VII by the Cornish Rebellion?

Answer 9

The numbers involved were significant (15,000 according to some estimates), there was an attempt to exploit the rebellion by Warbeck, and the rebels marched on London, being halted at Blackheath without serious effort to stop them.

Question 10

What details can you provide about the cloth trade and other industries?

Answer 10

Cloth trade made up the value of 90% value of English exports. 60% increase in exports throughout reigns.
Wool Shipped from east coast ports eg Yarmouth, exported through calais by Merchants of the staple
Finished cloth – made up industries like weaving, fulling and dyeing – meant employment for rural employment to supplement agarian incomes
some cloth towns (Lavenham/Suffolk) prospered but those such as Winchester suffered as industry was moved from older corporate boroughs to newer manufacturing centres
finished cloth – exported by merchant adventurers, who were the most wealthy company in London.
Could act as voice of industry + advise treaties but did not match power of hanseatic league (HVII cautious about yorkist threat)
Most other industries supported needs such as life, food and shelter. Mining – tin in cornwall, lead in high pennines, and mendips, coal in durham and northumberland. Iron mined in weald of sussex, pumping in county durham 1486. kent – blast furnace 1496

Question 11

What were the trade laws and treaties during this period?

Answer 11

Parliament often legislated in favor of sectional interests. The biggest problem was a trade embargo with the Netherlands imposed in 1493 due to fear of Margaret of Burgundy’s support for Warbeck.
Attempt at breakthrough in Mediterranean failed

Navigating acts 85+9 acts prohibited English merchants from using foreign ships for trade if English ships were available, encouraging the development of a stronger English shipping industry.

Question 12

What exploration occurred during this period?

Answer 12

John Cabot explored Newfoundland in 1497. Bristol merchant William Weston led an expedition to the New World in 1500.

Question 13

Was there any evidence of prosperity and depression during this time?

Answer 13

Prices and wages remained steady, but there was a decline in export prices of wool and grain in the 1490s, indicating a reduction in farming profitability but a rise in income for domestic consumers.

Question 14

What regional issues did Henry VIII face?

Answer 14

Border issues – society was not only divided by class and title, but reigonally divided…
- Wales: before 1536 wales was a separate territory from england, comprising border lordships and the principality of wales. It had neither a single unified administration or political link with england until Laws in Wales act 1536:
divided wales into shire counties
gave welsh shires representation in the house of commons
brought wales into the same legal framework as england
english counties lancashire, cheshire and durham were separate jurisdiction from the rest of the kingdom. Former – palatinate jurisdiction had fallen under royal control but durham seperate – act in resuming liberties of the crown

1536 changed this
anglo welsh border: cheap access to the law in lands governed by the principality of wales as well as bordering counties which came under the jurisdiction of wales

Anglo Scottish border remained a problematic area as it was difficult to police – much remote and inhospitable. Cattle and sheep rustling was common – lawlessness
scotland was split into 3 ‘marches’ under jurisdiction of a wardens

Question 15

Motives / causes of POG?

Answer 15

Religious motives – dissolusion of the monastries – by the early autumn of 36 the work of dissolving the monastries was under way, and the effect was on the loss of charitable/educational functions which some monastries provided, the possible loss of parish churches which were monastic properties, the fear of poverty in the north, and the usefulness of facilities/services offered
fear for parish churches and traditional religious practices – 1536 injunctions (pilgrimage discouraged, church plate/jewels confiscated, decline of importance of saints
secular motives: economic grievences, resentment of taxations, the crown’s attempt to impose duke of suffolk on lincolnshire as a magnate, conspiracy prompted by councillors supporting catherine of aragon, tenants’ grievances (pennines into westmorland)

Question 16

Threat of POG?

Answer 16

Northern rebels caused alarm as they occupied york, hull and pontefact castle, although lincolnshire surpressed by duke of suffolk.

Norfolk - near Doncaster. Outnumbered and promised that dissolved monasteries would be restored
Rebellion renewed in cumberland and east riding feb 37. 74 rebels hanged.

Question 17

What were the key developments in the cloth trade?

Answer 17

Continued rise in wool exports, although the market for raw wool declined. Woolen cloth exports doubled during HVIII’s reign, achieved through exports of hide and tin. London to Antwerp became the leading route for cloth, negatively impacting Bristol. There was a brief boom in Southampton with Venice and an increase in cheaper fabric (kersey). Growth of cloth occurred in West Riding of Yorkshire and East Anglia, but it was not always secure.

Question 18

Was there any exploration during this time?

Answer 18

Robert Thorne continued involvement in Iceland and Newfoundland fishery.

Question 19

Was there any evidence of prosperity and depression?

Answer 19

Yes: growth of population, decline in mortality, agricultural prices rose significantly from the 1520s, and more farming incomes were furthered by engrossing. No: bad harvests in 20 and 27 led to significant increases in decline in real wages, and over half the population in Coventry had no personal wealth, with one-third in Yarmouth. There was growing unemployment among rural laborers, with over 5000 migrants per year adding to the population in London.

Question 20

What was the impact of enclosure?

Answer 20

It was a moral problem that forced the poor to leave their homes. Wolsey launched an enclosure commission to ascertain the scale of the problem, finding 188 defendants who enclosed illegally.

Question 21

What economic problems did Somerset face?

Answer 21

Debt from war with Henry, debased coinage again, financing war against Scotland, and provoking rebellion. Enclosure increased as it meant conversion from arable to pasture to graze large flocks of sheep, leading to a sheep tax.

Question 22

What did Northumberland do to overcome these problems?

Answer 22

Sold Bologne and made plans for better financial administration, which happened under Mary.

Question 23

When was the Western Rebellion?

Answer 23

In 1549.

Question 24

What was it caused by?

Answer 24

The prayer book, which removed traditional rituals and wider roles in the community.

Question 25

What happened during the Western Rebellion?

Answer 25

Rebels came from Cornwall and Devon, besieged Exeter, and were defeated on Clyst Heath. The threat lasted from 6th June to 11th August.

Question 26

When was the Ketts Rebellion?

Answer 26

On 8th July 1549.

Question 27

What was it caused by?

Answer 27

The sheep tax, maladministration of the Howards, agrarian/social grievances in East Anglia, numerous riots, abuse by landowners, and hatred of local government officials.

Question 28

What happened during the Ketts Rebellion?

Answer 28

Rebels captured Norwich, and the Earl of Northampton failed to recapture it until 27th August with the help of foreign mercenaries. Kett was hung for high treason.

Question 29

What economic and social problems did Mary face?

Answer 29

Pressure on demand from population increase, inflationary impact of debasement of coinage, harvest failures in 1555 and 1536, and outbreaks of sweating sickness and influenza.

Question 30

What financial reforms did Mary introduce to combat these problems?

Answer 30

Introduced ff10ths and Exchequer augmentations, remitted the final part of Edward’s subsidy, drew up plans for recoinage in 1558, and created a book of rates.

Question 31

What did Mary introduce for the poor?

Answer 31

Law enforcement against grain hoarders and measures to convert pasture to tillage.

Question 32

When was the Wyatt Rebellion?

Answer 32

In 1553.

Question 33

What were the causes of the Wyatt Rebellion?

Answer 33

Xenophobia, decline in the cloth industry, Maidstone as a Protestant stronghold, and gentry who had lost office in the county.

Question 34

How threatened was Mary by the Wyatt Rebellion?

Answer 34

It showed that religion couldn’t be ignored and demonstrated the extent of hostility to her Protestant marriage.

Question 35

Positive social terms?

Answer 35

Many measures were introduced to help the poor at local and government level e.g… The gentry developed and benefited during this time. Society was able to benefit from the cultural developments and the golden age-could refer to the theatre. There were no major rebellions and threats to Elizabeth-society never broke down. People were happier with the religious settlement and no more change and upheaval-many concessions were made for Protestants and Catholics.

Question 36

Positive economic terms?

Answer 36

Cottage industries developed e.g. hosiery, soap manufacturing, nail making, brewing, shipbuilding etc. Internal trade improves. Exploration. Evidence of urban prosperity/growth. Beginnings of colonisation laid the foundations for the Empire. Trading companies were set up. Beginnings of a consumer society.

Question 37

Negative social terms

Answer 37

Society still remained stratified. There were still problems with poverty particularly between 1594-1597 with bad harvests. Evidence of depression-9 out of 44 harvests were bad. Subsistence crisis-1590s-people died from starvation. 25 homeless people believed to have died form starvation in Newcastle. People were anxious about the succession crisis. Northern Rebellion suggests discontent. Cross border lawlessness with Scotland. Food riots.

Question 38

Negative economic terms

Answer 38

Still remained behind the Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch. Developments with colonisation happened after Elizabeth’s reign. Cloth trade declined. Some towns suffered and there was evidence of urban decay. Real wages fell. Trading companies had limited effect. Urban decline.

Question 39

What treaty did Elizabeth sign regarding Calais?

Answer 39

The Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis, in which England and France would retain Calais for 8 years, and if France failed to return it, they would be paid 500,000.

Question 40

What intervention did Elizabeth make in France?

Answer 40

Elizabeth intervened in France when Catholics and Protestants were in conflict, providing a loan of 30,000.

Question 41

What initiatives did Elizabeth take to address social distress in her early reign?

Answer 41

Elizabeth attempted to address problems of social distress through the State of Artificers, extension to the Poor Law Act, and replacing the debased coinage; however, these were of limited effect.

Question 42

What did the Act of 1572 establish regarding poor relief?

Answer 42

The Act of 1572 established the principle that loyal ratepayers should be required to pay a rate for the relief of their own poor.

Question 43

What was the significance of the Poor Law Act of 1576?

Answer 43

The Poor Law Act of 1576 was the first act to attempt to create a national system of poor relief to be financed and administered locally, requiring towns to provide for the employment of the deserving poor.

Question 44

What did the Elizabethan Poor Law Act of 1601 establish?

Answer 44

The Elizabethan Poor Law Act of 1601 designated the parish as the institution required to raise rates for and administer poor relief, appointing overseers of the poor.

Question 45

What were the key responsibilities of the overseers of the poor?

Answer 45

The overseers' key responsibilities included relieving the impotent poor, setting the able-bodied to work, and apprenticing poor children, with their activities supervised by justices of the peace.

Question 47

What was the impact of poor harvests during Elizabeth's reign?

Answer 47

9 out of 44 harvests were poor, particularly catastrophic during 1594 to 1597 with four successive poor harvests.

Question 48

What happened to real wages by 1596?

Answer 48

Real wages collapsed to less than half the level of nine years earlier.

Question 49

What was the subsistence crisis during Elizabeth's reign?

Answer 49

The one real subsistence crisis occurred from 1596 to 1597.

Question 50

What did the Act of 1572 establish?

Answer 50

It established that loyal ratepayers should pay a rate for the relief of their own poor.

Question 51

What was the purpose of the Poor Law Act of 1576?

Answer 51

It attempted to create a national system of poor relief financed and administered locally.

Question 52

What did the Elizabethan Poor Law Act of 1601 designate?

Answer 52

It designated the parish as the institution to raise rates and administer poor relief.

Question 53

What were the key responsibilities of overseers of the poor?

Answer 53

Relieving the impotent poor, setting the able-bodied to work, and apprenticing poor children.

Question 54

What evidence of prosperity was seen in land ownership?

Answer 54

Landed incomes rose, and many landowners acquired material possessions unknown to previous generations.

Question 55

What was the state of trade during Elizabeth's reign?

Answer 55

Trade was buoyant, with evidence of shipbuilding and a search for new markets.

Question 56

How did urban growth manifest during this period?

Answer 56

Established towns like York and Norwich improved, while new settlements like Manchester and Plymouth developed.