Involving the localities in governance

Question 1

Why was the local gov so important to the monarch?

Answer 1

To assert royal control in the regions further from London

Had to suppress rebellion and collect tax

Question 2

What were the marcher regions

Answer 2

areas that bordered Wales and Scotland, hardest to control: own laws and customs

nobility controlled areas = quasier kings

own legal system - blood feuds + lawlessness

Question 3

Why was control of marcher regions important

Answer 3

powerful members of the nobility could use these militarised regions to build up their own power bases (Henry VII raised army to defeat Richard III on his estates at Pembroke, South Wales

Question 4

Temporary attempts to control Wales before the 1530s

Answer 4

used the council of wales based at ludlow castle headed by trusted Jasper Tudor Duke of Bedforf

Ruling through a figurehead of council

1) 1501: 15 year old prince Arthur sent to create permanent royal presence
2) 1525: Princess mary sent as figurhead of council

Question 5

The Law in Wales Act 1535 (Act of Union)

Answer 5

Marcher lordships abolished and replaced with 12 English-style counties

English system of local government introduced in each new Welsh county– sheriffs, coroners and JPs

Welsh counties and towns allocated 2 MPs who would sit in English parliament – previously Welsh regions hadn’t participated in law making

Question 6

Why was the Law in Wales Act 1535 (Act of Union) created?

Answer 6

Cromwell introduces

as a response to lawlessness and the limitations of royal authority

Question 7

Result of Law in Wales Act 1535

Answer 7

End to traditional military power of marcher lords

Wales remained directly under the control of the crown
Law and order improved
Region became less of a threat to political stability

Question 8

The Law in Wales Act 1542

Answer 8

Introduced system of English law into Wales

.New court system called courts of great sessions introduced - tried criminal cases such as theft or attack with no chance to appeal

Question 9

Control over wales - Elizabeth’s reign

Answer 9

By Elizabeth’s reign the Marcher Council had adapted further to include the Lord Lieutenants

Question 10

Why was control of the North difficult?

Answer 10

Geographically remote
poor communication
threat of Scottish invasion

Question 11

When did royal intervention in the north become permanent and direct?

Answer 11

Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 - Cromwell remodelled council to prevent further unrest and strenthen power

Question 12

Why could Henry VIII not trust noble families in the north to restore order

Answer 12

key Noble families – Dacres, Cliffords, Percys were involved in complex feuds

Question 13

Strengths of the council of the north

Answer 13

Bishop or nobility from the south as president – no vested interests, remain neutral in decision making:

Rest of the council made up of local gentry, lawyers and clergy that came from the north

Question 14

How did the power of the monarchy increase through the power of the council of the north

Answer 14

, the position of traditional nobility was undermined who were no longer able to rule the North as they pleased

Question 15

Further changes to the council of the north under elizabeth

Answer 15

Attempted to insert more Southerners – caused resentment among northern nobility and led to rebellion i

Council became responsible for combatting recusancy (practice of people not going to the church) because North was openly Catholic and may rebel against her Supremacy 1559

Question 16

What were borough MPs?

Answer 16

towns which had the right to send two MPs to sit in parliament

Usually not actually townsmen, tended to not even live in the towns they represented -

Question 17

Reason for the increasing borough representation

Answer 17

increasing population led to an increase in number of borough constituencies created

Question 18

Result of increasing borough representation

Answer 18

led to an increase of corresponding merchants and lawyers being elected e.g. wentworth and cope

men were skilled and confident enough to chakkenge existing system and suggest reform

Question 19

Limitations of borough representation

Answer 19

during reformation parliament it cost 70 pound per town to fund just one MP so poorer towns like Dunwich allowed gentry Edumund rose to cover own costs

Question 20

How borough representation extended monarch’s power

Answer 20

Many of the new boroughs were in regions controlled by the Crown itself e.g. Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster

Crown could use these boroughs to place its own candidates in parliament who were loyal and experienced

Question 21

Why was the majority of the population illiterate?

Answer 21

education was provided by church and guild schools but was limited and basic

Question 22

How did literacy improve and for who?

Answer 22

number of schools for yeomen increased (richer peasants who had trade/land to sell)

Question 23

Impact of educating the Yeomen

Answer 23

enabled them to take part in local government - becoming involved in political system meant they were more likely to defend rather than attack it

Yeomen used legal system for disputes rather than violence

Question 24

Who were JPs

Answer 24

members of nobility and gentry were local officials that kept law and order

Question 25

Role of JPs

Answer 25

responsible for overseeing local justice (deciding cases of felony/trespasses) + expected to govern county on the behalf of the crown (administrating poor law, controlling vagrants and supervising fixed wages)

Question 26

Role of JPs under Henry VII

Answer 26

Usurper = vulnerable to rebellion

appointed members of his Court as JPs

JPs could act on information received about suspects without waiting for jury to be summoned and had power ti inquire complaints of corruption / illegal retaining by the nobility

Question 27

Role of JPs under Henry VIII:

Answer 27

Wolsey made JPs fill questionnaire’s about law and order in their region

Cromwell was careful to check who was appointed as a JP as they were expected to enforce supremacy and Reformation

Question 28

Role of JPs under Edward

Answer 28

role enforcing Edward’s religious changes – 1552 JPs were ordered to enforce the Second Prayer Book

Question 29

Role of JPs under Elizabeth

Answer 29

local gentry had realised that becoming a JP was crucial to social and political advancement so Cecil kept close eye

JPs had acquired powers to deal with new felonies introduced by the government, including riots, damage to property, with-craft and recusancy.

also now responsible for tudor poor laws