MID-TUDOR CRISIS?

Question 1

WHAT reigns are always considered part of the mid-Tudor crisis?

Answer 1

The entirety of Edward VI’s and Mary I’s.

Question 2

WHAT reigns are sometimes considered part of the mid-Tudor crisis?

Answer 2

ALL of EdVI and Mary’s.
Sometimes the final years of Henry VIII’s and the first years of Elizabeth’s are also considered in this period.

Question 3

WHAT does the phrase ‘mid-Tudor crisis’ suggest?

Answer 3

That the mid-Tudor period was unproductive, uncreative and strife-ridden

Question 4

WHAT historian agrees with the ‘mid-Tudor crisis’ idea?

Answer 4

Whitney Jones (1973) described the years 1547-1556 as marked with religious strife, inefficiency in government, economic and social distress, and failures in foreign policy.

Question 5

WHICH historians disagree with the ‘mid-Tudor crisis’ idea?

Answer 5

Jennifer Loach and Robert Tittler (1983) challenged the idea. They argued both the positive features of 1547-1558 and the less desirable features of the years either side (e.g. rebellions against HVIII’s religious policies in the 1530s)

Question 6

WHAT is evidence of crisis in government 1540-1563?

Answer 6

• HVIII: Crown finance completely ran out; political rivalries as HVIII fell ill; and execution of Cromwell
• EdVI: changes of leadership (Somerset and Northumberland); Western and Kett’s rebellions (1549); and Lady Jane Grey
• Mary I: disagreements with her council; Wyatt’s rebellion (1554); and no heir (didn’t want Elizabeth)

Question 7

WHAT is evidence of no crisis in government 1540-1563?

Answer 7

• HVIII: secured succession fairly easily; no rebellions in this period
• Elizabeth I: had support from her councillors since the beginning

Question 8

WHAT is evidence of crisis in economy 1540-1563?

Answer 8

• HVIII: debasement in 1544; decline in real wages
• EdVI: sheep tax was a failure; enclosure policies were unpopular; inflation
• Mary I: inflation
• Elizabeth I: real wages dropping

Question 9

WHAT is evidence of no crisis in economy 1540-1563?

Answer 9

• EdVI: encouraged exploration and trade with new places
• Mary I: financial reforms which came into effect under Elizabeth
• Elizabeth I: recoinage

Question 10

WHAT is evidence of crisis in religion 1540-1563?

Answer 10

• HVIII: 1543 King’s Book switching from more radical Protestantism, back to more conservative doctrine
• EdVI: ordinary people didn’t change religion, despite Protestant policies
• Mary I: burnt 284 Protestants

Question 11

WHAT is evidence of no crisis in religion 1540-1563?

Answer 11

• EdVI: religion became more Protestant (success for his policy)
• Mary I: pastoral reforms (ordinary people supported her Catholicism)
• Elizabeth I: religious settlement

Question 12

WHAT is evidence of crisis in foreign policy 1540-1563?

Answer 12

• HVIII: fluctuating foreign policy, depending on finances
• EdVI: unsuccessful wars with Scotland and France (Somerset)
• Mary I: lost Calais (1558)
• Elizabeth I: broke terms of treaty with France and lost Calais forever

Question 13

WHAT is evidence of no crisis in foreign policy 1540-1563?

Answer 13

• HVIII: Battle of Solway Moss (1542)
• EdVI: ended wars with Scotland and France (Northumberland, wars started by Somerset)
• Mary I: naval and military reforms, successful marriage aliance with Philip I of Spain