Henry VIII Economy

Question 1

Economic problems

Answer 1

-Population increase from 1525
-Real wages declined, worst at the end of Henry’s reign
-Evidence of growing unemployment amongst rural labourers
-Food prices almost doubled across Henry’s reign due to bad harvests
-The price of wheat had risen from 6 shillings a quarter to 10 shillings in 1540
-Population increase from 2 million in 1485 to 2.8 million by 1547

Question 2

Enclosure

Answer 2

-In 1547 Wolsey began a national enquiry to find out how much land was enclosed and what effects it was having and he drew up legal cases against landlords who had enclosed land without permission

-Wolsey faced opposition in 1523 from landowners in Parliament which forced him to suspend inquiries until 1526

Question 3

Trade

Answer 3

-There was a rise in cloth and tin exports and the volume of English trade increased
-But not all profit from English Cloth went to English people as the trade was in foreign hands before they were transported
-An increasing proportion of exported cloth was routed through London which impacted other parts of the country negatively

Question 4

Foreign Policy

Answer 4

-1520 Wolsey’s alliance with France against Spain caused economic problems
-The trade embargo against Spain (who controlled the Netherlands) affected the trade cloth very badly and coincides with the effects of a terrible harvest in 1527