The Main changes in Politics & Government under Henry VIII - Thomas Cromwell

Question 1

Question 1
Why was Cardinal Wolsey accused of praemunire?

Answer 1

Charged with placing loyalty to the Pope above Henry VIII, & undermining Royal authority.

Question 2

Question 2
What happened to Cardinal Wolsey after his dismissal?

Answer 2

He was summoned to London, likely to be tried & executed, but died en route.

Question 3

Question 3
How did Thomas Cromwell come to power?

Answer 3

After Wolsey’s fall, Cromwell rose to become Henry VIII’s new ‘Chief Minister’, shaping Royal policy.

Question 4

Question 4
Which institution controlled finance before Thomas Cromwell?

Answer 4

Court of the Star Chamber, established under Henry VII & continued by Wolsey.

Question 5

Question 5
What did Cromwell do to reorganize Tudor financial administration?

Answer 5

• Restored the Exchequer.
• Created specialized courts.
• Restructured financial governance

Question 6

Question 6
What were the three financial courts Cromwell established?

Answer 6

• Court of Augmentations.
• Court of Wards.
• Court of First Fruits & Tenths.

Question 7

Question 7
What did the Court of First Fruits & Tenths do?

Answer 7

Collected the taxes that had previously been paid to the Pope.

Question 8

Question 8
When was the Court of Wards established?

Answer 8

1540.

Question 9

Question 9
What did the Court of Wards do?

Answer 9

Handled the increased Feudal revenues as a result of the Henrician Reformation.

Question 10

Question 10
When was the Court of Augmentations established?

Answer 10

1536.

Question 11

Question 11
What did the Court of Augmentations do?

Answer 11

Managed the income from the former Monastic lands.

Question 12

Question 12
What did Cromwell’s reforms to finance improve?

Answer 12

Significantly improved Record keeping & could keep an eye on the people.

Question 13

Question 13
What impact did Cromwell’s financial reforms have?

Answer 13

• Generated increased revenue for Crown.
• Centralized power.
• Made courts more specialized & efficient.

Question 14

Think - Wolsey & Henry VII

Question 14
How was the Privy Council structured before Thomas Cromwell?

Answer 14

An informal Governmental/ advisory body with variable numerical membership.

Question 15

Question 15
What did Wolsey change about the Privy Council?

Answer 15

Reduced noble influence & increased his personal power

Question 16

Question 16
How did Cromwell restructure the Privy Council?

Answer 16

• Reduced its size to a select group of 19 trusted ministers.
• Made it a distinct & permanent institution of Government by 1540.

Question 17

Question 17
What judicial functions of the Privy Council were removed?

Answer 17

Transferred to the Court of the Star Chamber & the Court of Requests.

This made the Council a purely advisory.

Question 18

Question 18
How did reducing the Privy Council’s size improve governance?

Answer 18

• Fewer people meant more focused decision-making.
• Started to function like a modern-day Cabinet.

Question 19

Question 19
How did the role of the Privy Council change under Cromwell?

Answer 19

Became exclusively an advisory body to the King.

Question 20

Question 20
How did Cromwell diversify the Privy Council?

Answer 20

• Wasn’t just nobility, as professional gentry also joined.
• Made royal advisors more specialised but also more disposable if they failed to meet Henry’s demands.

Question 21

Question 21
How had King’s issued laws before the Cromwell era?

Answer 21

Used Royal proclamations, which held same weight as Acts of Parliament but didn’t require Parliamentary approval.

Question 22

Question 22
What was Parliament’s traditional role prior to Cromwell?

Answer 22

Limited power, convened only by royal order & primarily used to grant tax increases.

Question 23

Question 23
How did Cromwell convince Henry VIII to use Parliament more frequently?

Answer 23

• To secure legitimacy for major reforms, E.g. Break with Rome.
• To show public support for controversial policies, E.g. Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Question 24

Question 24
When was the Reformation parliament?

Answer 24

1529-36.

Question 25

Question 25 What was the significance of the Reformation Parliament?

Answer 25

Extended Parliament’s influence, allowing it to legislate on Church & State matters, reinforcing Henry’s supremacy over the Church.

Question 26

Question 26 How did Cromwell change the role of statute laws?

Answer 26

Became primary method for enacting reforms, making Parliament a central law-making institution.

Question 27

Question 27 Who were involved in making statute laws?

Answer 27

* King. * Nobility. * House of Commons.

Question 28

Question 28 Why has Cromwell’s use of Parliament been debated?

Answer 28

Some historians argueParliament wasn't truly independent, but instead legitimised Royal decisions rather than actively shaping policies.

Question 29

Question 29 How did Cromwell’s reforms change Parliament’s function?

Answer 29

* Met more frequently. * More statute's passed, laying groundwork for modern politics. * MPs gained experience in legislative procedures, making Parliament more efficient & effective.

Question 30

Question 30 What legislative legacy did Cromwell leave?

Answer 30

* Practice of bills being discussed 3 times during legislative process. * Longer Parliaments, improved stability in governance.

Question 31

Question 31 How did Cromwell change England’s religious & political structure?

Answer 31

Drafted legislation destroying power of Rome & Papacy, creating Church of England & strengthening Henry VIII’s authority.

Question 32

Question 33 What did the Acts of Union accomplish?

Answer 32

* Brought administrative uniformity to Wales. * Gave Council of Wales greater power over Welsh governance.

Question 33

Question 33 What change did Cromwell make to the Council of the North?

Answer 33

Restructured it as an extension of Council in London, making it directly accountable to central government.

Question 34

Question 34 When was the Council of the West established?

Answer 34

1539.

Question 35

Question 35 Why was the Council of the West established?

Answer 35

* Bring greater government control to an area lacking loyal landowners. * Short-lived, collapsed after Cromwell’s fall.

Question 36

Question 36 How did Cromwell complete his reforms to Regional Government?

Answer 36

Attacked any territorial franchises or liberties that still survived & which prevented full operation of Royal justice.

Question 37

Question 37 How did Cromwell’s reforms affect noble power?

Answer 37

* Reduced noble influence by making regional councils more powerful & effective. * Eliminated territorial franchises that obstructed royal justice.

Question 38

Question 38 What effect did Cromwell’s policies have on Wales?

Answer 38

* Wales lost some independece, adopting English laws & governing system. * Marcher Lords lost authority, centralising Henry VIII’s power.

Question 39

Question 39 Who was the last Minister to head the English Government before Cromwell?

Answer 39

Cardinal Wolsey, serving as Lord Chancellor.

Question 40

Question 40 What changes did Cromwell make to the role of Principal Secretary?

Answer 40

* Coordinated new & reformed government departments. * Transformed role from a private servant to a major office of state. * By 1540 Principal Secretary became a Department of State.

Question 41

Question 41 When did Thomas Cromwell take the role of Principal Secretary?

Answer 41

1534.

Question 42

Question 42 How did Cromwell’s changes make the Principal Secretary role more vital?

Answer 42

* Role became central to government operations. * Ensured efficient administration & coordination across departments

Question 43

Question 43 Did the Principal Secretary have independent power?

Answer 43

No, they relied entirely on the King for their authority and continued position. ## Footnote They relied entirely on the King for their authority & position retention.

Question 44

Question 44 What were Thomas Cromwell’s major reforms as Henry VIII’s Chief Minister?

Answer 44

* Reformed Council of the North. * Furthered Council of Wales' power. * Established Court of Augmentations. * Founded Court of First Fruits & Tenths. * Reformed Court of Wards. * Introduced Pro-Civil Sevants. * Centralised London Administration & Finance.

Question 45

Question 45 Why has Cromwell been seen as both a Revolutionary & a Conservative?

Answer 45

* Transformed English governance but built upon existing structures. * Hhousehold system was replaced with bureaucratic departments.

Question 46

Question 46 What was the Historian Elton’s interpretation of Cromwell’s work?

Answer 46

* He modernized where necessary & innovated when needed. * Reforms affected Church, Crown, administration & Parliament