EdVI ECONOMY

Question 1

WHAT was the economic situation in England that EdVI inherited?

Answer 1

1) Inflationary pressures
2) Agrarian issues (enclosure, harvest failures, etc.)
3) Taxation

Question 2

HOW did Somerset’s government affect inflation?

Answer 2

• Financing the war against Scotland continued to debase the coinage
• Basic foodstuffs (bread, cheese, meat) were worst affected
• Heigtened inflationary pressures and added to social distress

Question 3

WHAT did Somerset do to tackle enclosure?

Answer 3

• Set up a commission to investigate enclosure
• Issued a proclamation against enclosure
• Introduced taxes to try and deter enclosure (e.g. the sheep tax)

Question 4

WHAT were the consequences of Somerset’s actions against enclosure?

Answer 4

Little was achieved apart from raising the hopes of the poor (which led to frustration when nothing changed) and annoying landowners

Question 5

WHAT were the consequences of Somerset’s sheep tax?

Answer 5

It mainly put huge financial pressure on small farmers (mostly in the uplands) who had little choice but to rely on sheep, rather than preventing enclosure

Question 6

HOW did Northumberland improve Crown finance?

Answer 6

• Ended wars with France and Scotland
• Increased revenue from the church ruthlessly (e.g. melted down church plates for bullion)
• Commission produced a detailed analysis of the failings of royal finance

Question 7

HOW did Northumberland tackle enclosure?

Answer 7

• Enforced anti-enclosure legislation
• Ended the enclosure commissions
• Sheep tax was repealed 1550
• Acts passed to protect arable farming

Question 8

WHEN was the sheep tax repealed?

Answer 8

1550

Question 9

WHAT were the consequences of a rise in population under EdVI?

Answer 9

• Increasing prices and rents, decreasing wages
• Vagrancy increased, people saw this as a danger
• Increased unemployment led to social unrest

Question 10

WHAT laws were passed due to increased vagrancy under EdVI?

Answer 10

Somerset: 1547 Vagrancy Act meant that vagrants had to be branded with a V and sold into slavery (unpopular and never put into effect)
Northumberland: 1552 Poor Law meant that parishes had to raise money to look after the deserving poor

Question 11

With WHO did Northumberland encourage trade?

Answer 11

Due to problems with the cloth trade in Netherlands, Northumberland encouraged the finding of new trade routes across the world. This included Muscovy (Russian principality) and the Gold Coast, West Africa