Causes of unrest 1547-58

Question 1

Social & Economic reasons

Answer 1

Rising prices
Poor harvests
Enclosure (Kett’s Rebellion)
Poverty

Question 2

Factional Causes

Answer 2

Mainly seen under Edward VI in the Regency Council.
Somerset removed power in a coup and Northumberland succeeded him as Lord President of the Council

Northumberland also placed Lady Jane Grey on the throne in 1553, bringing England close to civil war

Question 3

Religious Change

Answer 3

Kett’s rebellion had religious grievances, as did Western.

Religious uncertainty under Henry and Mary

Question 4

Population Rise

3

Answer 4

Population was rising for the first time since the Black Death in the 1300s. Rose from 2.3million to 3million between 1525-51 (inaccurate data)

Agriculture productivity couldn’t keep up with this and grain prices rose heavily. These were the staple food at the time.

More children in the population not of working age. Consumers not producers

Question 5

Agriculture & Enclosure

2

Answer 5

Many farmers changed to sheep farming as demand for cloth grew. This caused unemployment as sheep farming required fewer labourers. Farmers also had no knowledge of crop cycle, didn’t have fertilisers

Enclosure was seen as evil by many. Somerset attempted to tackle the issue by establishing Enclosure Commisions in 1548 & 49, but parliament blocked it as the gentry benefited.

Question 6

Price Rise

4

Answer 6

In 1546 prices were 148% of what they had been in 1508

Contemporaries blamed the rise in prices on greedy landowners, but it was mainly rising population and poor agriculture (farmers switching to sheep farming, no knowledge of crop cycle, didn’t have fertilisers)

Debasement of the currency to fund wars against Scotland and France further increased inflation as there was more money in circulation.

6 Bad harvests in 1547 to 58

Dissolution of the Monarchies (1636-41) made matters worse as monasteries were institutions that offered aid to the poor

Question 7

Poverty

3

Answer 7

Slump in the cloth trade and enclosure decreasing required number of workers caused unemployment.

Price rises (148% in 1546 of what they were in 1508)

1547 Vagrancy Act condemned vagrants to slavery