Henry VIII govt Flashcards
What position was the crown in financially on the death of Henry VII?
solvent with an efficient financial system
How did Henry ensure financial contiuity from his dad’s reign?
Used his father’s ministers e.g Sir John Heron till his death in 1521
How did Henry VIII’s govt differ from his father’s?
Henry VIII was not prepared to work long hours and deal with the details of govt business
He employed talented and energetic chief ministers who he could trust with the admin of the kingdom
Like his father though Hen VIII made the final decision
Who were the 2 chief ministers who dominated Henry’s govt?
Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell
How did Wolsey make govt more efficient?
1626 drew up the Eltham Ordinances to professionalise the crown’s admin and reorganise finances
Who succeeded Wolsey?
Cromwell
What has Cromwell been credited with by some historians?
Revolutionising govt
Bereucratising govt by employing salaried civil servants
What was the relationship between crown and parliament like?
Master and servant
The King had the power to summon, prorogue and dismiss parliament
What were the traditional function of parliament?
Advise the King
Raise revenue through tax and supply the crown with the cash to govern
Draft and pass laws, ensure obedience t the law and the maintenance of law and order
How did Henry VIII’s relationship with Parl differ compared to his father?
Called parliament more often as he needed money to pay for expensive foreign wars
He needed laws to establish the royal supremacy
How many times did Hen VIII summon parl?
9 times in his 38 year reign, but it sat for longer and dealt with a wider range of issues
When was the reformation parliament summoned?
1529 and dismissed in 1536. It sat for an unprecedented 7 years
How did Parl evolve in the 1530s?
It was used to effect changes in the constitutional relationship between church and state
As Henry became head of the church the financial and legal power of parliament grew in strength
How was Henry VIII manipulated by Wolsey and Cromwell?
Cromwell convinced Henry that marriage to Anne of Cleeve was a good idea
Henry allowed himself to be manipulated when it suited his purpose, but he had the final say
No statute, injunction or proclamation could be passed without Henry’s consent
Cromwell and Wolsey ere professional bureaucrats who knew how royal admin worked
Henry was reluctant to enage in admin so it gave his advisers the advantage
Henry retained the power of veto
