Kett's Rebellion

Question 1

How was Kett’s rebellion threatening? (3)

Answer 1

1. 16,000 strong rebel army which seized Norwich twice and defeated a professional army
2. Well-organised and effectively run camp
3. Somerset was extremely unpopular, and so nobles supported his rule being challenged

Question 2

How was Kett’s rebellion not threatening? (3)

Answer 2

1. Decisively defeated by Warwick
2. Kett lacked military knowledge and tactics
3. Limited resources due to lack of noble support

Question 3

What were the political consequences of Kett’s rebellion? (2)

Answer 3

1. Earl of Warwick becomes Lord Protector
2. Somerset imprisoned and executed in 1551

Question 4

What were the socio-economic consequences of Kett’s rebellion? (4)

Answer 4

1. Ended large scale anti-enclosure movements
2. Common land gone
3. Rise of poverty
4. No further peasant rebellions in the Tudor period

Question 5

How big was Kett’s rebel army?

Answer 5

16,000

Question 6

What was notable about class cooperation?

Answer 6

Rebels refused to work with nobility

Question 7

What was the Oak of Reformation?

Answer 7

Kett’s court in which he passed judgment on landowners

Question 8

Who lead Somerset’s first army, what was particular about it and how big was it?

Answer 8

William Parr, many Italian mercenaries, 1,500

Question 9

How many rebels surrendered when offered a pardon after first taking Norwich?

Answer 9

20

Question 10

Who lead Somerset’s second army, what was particular about it and how big was it?

Answer 10

Earl of Warwick, mainly experienced German mercenaries, 12,000

Question 11

How many rebels were massacred at Dussindale compared to the Royal Army?

Answer 11

3,000 compared to 200

Question 12

When was Kett captured?

Answer 12

27th August, following Dussindale

Question 13

What was the attitude of the Earl of Warwick towards the rebellion?

Answer 13

• fearful of revolt, didn’t want it to succeed
• but also didn’t want to support Somerset’s government

Question 14

What did the Earl of Warwick do following the rebellion?

Answer 14

• lead repression (9 executed)
• became Lord Protector

Question 15

What was the role of the Duke of Somerset and why was he controversial?

Answer 15

• Lord Protector
• took the role against Henry VIII’s wishes and ruled as a dictator against the decreed collective leadership

Question 16

What was the Duke of Somerset’s attitude toward enclosure?

Answer 16

Sympathetic, encouraging rebellion through commissions and accepting petitions

Question 17

What were the socio-economic causes of Kett’s rebellion? (3)

Answer 17

1. ‘Mid Tudor Crisis’ caused by debasement, and inflation due to war
2. Poor harvests in 1545 and 1549
3. Population increase

Question 18

What was the population increase between 1525-1551?

Answer 18

2.3 - 3 million

Question 19

What was the price increase between 1500-1550?

Answer 19

~300%

Question 20

What were the political causes of Kett’s rebellion? (3)

Answer 20

1. Somerset passes commission on enclosure to protect peasants - ‘Good Duke’
2. Ploughed up illegal enclosures
3. Alienated landed gentry

Question 21

What were the religious causes of Kett’s rebellion? (3)

Answer 21

1. Reformation of corrupt religious authority created a parallel with secular
2. Rebels held frequent Protestant services at Oak
3. Protestant-Humanist noblemen sympathised with rebels

Question 22

What were the attitudes of Humanists / Commonwealth men?

Answer 22

The needs of society are vital for the success of the country

Question 23

Why did Kett’s attitude to enclosure change?

Answer 23

Local landowner Flowerdew tried to turn the village community against him

Question 24

What was rack-renting?

Answer 24

Charging extortionate rent in order to force peasants off land

Question 25

What was foldcourse?

Answer 25

The right of peasants to enclose land to prevent sheep grazing on common areas

Question 26

What was engrossing?

Answer 26

Combining farms under one wealthy landowner leading to the eviction of peasants

Question 27

What were copyholders?

Answer 27

Peasants whose all copies of the rights to their land were in the hands of the landowner

Question 28

What were the social impacts of enclosure? (4)

Answer 28

1. Increased poverty
2. Challenged traditional village structure
3. Landowners ‘lost’ peasants’ land rights
4. Tactics such as engrossing created class tension

Question 29

What were the political impacts of enclosure? (2)

Answer 29

1. Concerns about rebellion
2. Humanist factions formed in court

Question 30

What were the economic impacts of enclosure? (2)

Answer 30

1. Fewer workers needed on enclosed land
2. Prioritised sheep farming which reduced space for growing food, causing price rise

Question 31

What were the mistakes of Kett? (2)

Answer 31

1. Lacked military knowledge and tactics
2. Listened to ‘prophecies’ suggesting victory at Dussindale, causing them to retreat

Question 32

What were the mistakes of Somerset? (2)

Answer 32

1. Encouraged rebellion through enclose commissions
2. Appointed Parr, Marquess of Northampton who mishandled the situatipn

Question 33

Tudor Society - John Guy

Answer 33

‘Tudor England was an unequal society, and gloried in that fact’

Question 34

Class inequality - Cornwall

Answer 34

‘the state had been taken over by a breed of men whose policy was to rob the poor for the benefit of the rich’

Question 35

Declaration of the Duke of Somerset

Answer 35

‘Private profit, self love, money and such like are the devil’s instruments’

Question 36

First demand of Robert Kett, July 1549

Answer 36

‘We pray your grace that from henceforth no man shall enclose any more’

Question 37

Subversion of power - Paget, advisor

Answer 37

‘the feet have taken the role of the head and the commons believe that they are King’

Question 38

When and where was Kett’s rebellion?

Answer 38

Norfolk 1549