Edward VI - Social and Economic Problems

Question 1

What was the social hierarchy called?

Answer 1

The Chain of Being

Question 2

What was the order of the chain of being?

Answer 2

Royalty, noblemen, skilled traders, peasants, beggars

Question 3

What was a social issue with the nobility owning land?

Answer 3

They got greedy, rising rent prices and stripping away common pasture for their own use

Question 4

Why was enclosure a problem?

Answer 4

It resulted in very little land for the people to use. This created social tension between the rich and the poor

Question 5

What was Henry VIII’s economic legacy?

Answer 5

• Debasement had led to inflation and rising prices
• Heavy expenditure on war
• Borrowed money, leaving £100,000 to Antwerp market

Question 6

What issues did the financial problems cause?

Answer 6

• Rising population
• Inflation
• Rising rent price
• Poverty
• Poor harvests

Question 7

What financial changes did Edward and Somerset make?

Answer 7

• Heavy military expenditure was continued

- Debasement was continued at full speed

Question 8

What was the vagrancy act?

Answer 8

The Slavery Act of 1547 enabled able-bodied workers out of a job for 3 days to be branded “V” and sold to slavery for two years

Question 9

What did Edward and Seymour do about enclosure?

Answer 9

• Keen supporter of anti-enclosure
• Investigation into enclosure led by John Hales
• Proclamation issued against enclosure