Economic + Social Situation

Question 1

Were socio-economic conditions overall good or bad under Mary? Why?

Answer 1

Bad

• Inherited socio-economic situation still needed improvement
• Unlucky circumstances during Mary’s reign (harvests, influenza)
• Mary’s reign was too short for her counter-policies to have much effect

Question 2

What socio-economic issues did Mary inherit?

Answer 2

• Increasing population (raising inflation + unemployment)

- Continued inflation impact of a debased coinage in circulation

Question 3

What unlucky circumstances worsened the socio-economic situation under Mary?

Answer 3

• Harvest failures (1555+1556): heavy rain, big food shortages + strain on the poor
• Influenza epidemic (1557+1558): highest mortality rates of century

Question 4

Give an example of how Mary’s short reign reduced the success of some of her policies aimed at improving socio-economics

Answer 4

Planned to start recoinage (1556-8)
(Replace coins to reduce inflation from debased coinage moving around country)
Didn’t have time - done under Elizabeth

Question 5

List 5 actions Mary took to improve socio-economic conditions

Answer 5

• Reformed structure of the financial system
• Borrowed from Antwerp
• Formed the Muscovy Company
• Attempt to reduce urban poverty
• Attempt to reduce rural poverty

Question 6

How did Mary reform the structure of the financial system?

Answer 6

• Court of First Fruit and Tenths + Court of Augmentations replaced by the Court of Exchequer
• Court of Exchequer adopted many of the other courts’ superior methods, creating one modern, centralised, efficient system
• Lord Treasurer Winchester headed the system

Question 7

What were the Court of First Fruit and Tenths + Court of Exchequer initially set up for?

Answer 7

To deal with revenue from papacy + monastic land

Question 8

What was the Muscovy Company?

Answer 8

New trading company formed by Mary in 1557 in attempt to boost employment + overseas trade (particularly with Russia)

Question 9

Was the restructuring of the financial system effective?

Answer 9

Yes - created a centralised, efficient, modern system (Exchequer)

Question 10

Was the formation of the Muscovy Company successful?

Answer 10

Partially

• Started trade with Russia + N.Africa
• Exploration + new trading route openings was limited due to anxiety surrounding the reaction of the Spanish + Portuguese

Question 11

Why did Mary borrow money from Antwerp?

Answer 11

To bolster Crown funds in hope to improve socio-economic situation

Question 12

At what rate was Mary borrowing from Antwerp?

Answer 12

12-13%

Question 13

What allowed Mary to continue to borrow from Antwerp?

Answer 13

Her good credit score

Question 14

How did Mary try to reduce urban poverty?

Answer 14

Discouraged + restricted movement of industry from towns -> countryside.
Hoped this would boost employment + improve socio-economics.

Question 15

Were Mary’s attempts to reduce poverty in rural + urban areas successful?

Answer 15

No - unemployment would only be properly reduced if new industry opened up in both towns + countryside

Question 16

How did Mary attempt to reduce rural poverty?

Answer 16

• Encouraged land conversion from pasture to crops (more benefits from less land)
• Encouraged implementation of laws against grain hoarders

Question 17

What was the Poor Law Act (1555)?

Answer 17

Extension of the 1552 Vagrancy Act

Ordered vagrants to wear badges to demonstrate poverty + encourage more of public to donate alms for poor relief

Question 18

What was the only major rebellion under Mary?

Answer 18

Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554)

Question 19

When was Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 19

Jan-Feb 1554

Question 20

What were the causes of Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 20

• MAIN: Opposition to Philip-Mary marriage (feared Spanish influence/Philip may control England)
• Opposition to religious change (Protestantism -> Catholicism)
• Socio-economic grievances may have played a less significant role

Question 21

What trade was declining under Mary?

Answer 21

Cloth trade (with Antwerp)

Question 22

How many simultaneous uprisings made up Wyatt’s Rebellion? Where were they?

Answer 22

4

• Devon (led by Earl Ed. Courtenay)
• Hertfordshire
• Leicestershire
• Kent (led by Sir Thomas Wyatt)

Question 23

Where was the only properly successful rising in Wyatt’s Rebellion? How many people were there?

Answer 23

Kent

Approx 3000 men

Question 24

Why is it called Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 24

Sir Thomas Wyatt led the only successful branch of the rebellion in Kent

Question 25

What type of people were involved in Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 25

• Regular citizens
• Elites
• Lady Jane Grey’s father

Question 26

Which key figure was thought to have conspired in Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 26

Elizabeth

Question 27

Briefly outline what happened in Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554)

Answer 27

25th Jan: Wyatt signals start of rebellion in Kent
28th Jan: Unsuccessful attempt to end rebellion by Duke of Norfolk
1st Feb: Mary gives speech at Guildhall London to rally support
7th Feb: Rebels try to enter London at Ludgate but are stopped

Question 28

How did Mary end Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 28

• Reduced opposition during rebellion by giving strong speech
• Cut off 2 of the main entrances to London (London Bridge + the Tower)

Question 29

What were the outcomes of Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 29

• Wyatt executed
• Lady Jane Grey executed (because of father’s involvement)
• Elizabeth arrested + temporarily imprisoned
• Highlighted: unpopularity of royal marriage + support for Protestantism

Question 30

What did Mary do to Elizabeth after Wyatt’s Rebellion?

Answer 30

Imprisoned her in the Tower due to her suspected involvement BUT had to release her shortly after with no evidence of her involvement