Mid-Tudor Crisis? Flashcards
Do all historians agree on whether or not it was a ‘crisis’?
No! Not everyone thinks there was a crisis.
Can you remember some of the historian’s names?
Whitney Jones - argued that there was a huge crisis between 1539-1563. He attributes it to ineptitude of the government and religious polarisation, because of a weak monarchy.
David Loades - argues that, despite challenging circumstances, the Tudor government actually escaped catastrophe. The years “should be seen in a very positive light, not as years of crisis, but as years of achievment.”
Areas of a ‘crisis’? Religion:
Lack of clarity by successsive monarchs as to what England’s religious policy actually was, leading to resistance and social upheaval.
Areas of a ‘crisis’? Governance:
Administration of the nation was handled poorly, particularly the use of Parliament and the Council. The Duke of Somerset’s rule is used as a major piece of supporting evidence here.
Areas of a ‘crisis’? Economy:
Massive harvest failures in 1549-1551 and 1555-1556 exacerbated existing problems with enclosure, inflation and population growth, contributing to social unrest.
Areas of a ‘crisis’? Foreign Policy:
Foreign policy was generally a disaster. England was involved in expensive and ill thought-out conflicts with France and Scotland, achieving little and losing much.
What does Loades say how other historians have used the word ‘crisis’?
He says that using the word ‘crisis’ is an attention-grabber, and it’s a good way for historians to get people to read their books. He also states that change, developments or continuity are not as interesting for a period of historical study.
What does Heard have to say about the Mid-Tudor ‘crisis’?
A ‘crisis’ is not experienced across the whole nation or continously between 1547-1558.
Despite short-term events like the Reformation causing turbulence, the nation was never in ‘danger of collapse’ and ‘for most people life went on as normal’.
What there a crisis in Marian’s relationship with government?
Mary had a co-operative, cautious relationship with parliament. She lost confidence in Paget due to his opposition to her religious programmes and never fully trusted Gardiner because he failed to support Catherine from the Break with Rome.
Was there a crisis in the way that Mary’s government opposed her?
Around 80 MPs opposed Mary and the reversal of her Eddwardian religious legislation, perhaps concerned of losing ex-monastic lands.
What types of ‘crisis’ were there with Mary and Parliament’s disagreements?
1) Phillip and his power - Paget and Gardiner worked together to limit his power.
2) There was an argument over succession to the throne and who the next heir would be - Parliament refused to exile Elizabeth from the succession.
When did Mary’s most trusted advisor, Stephen Gardiner, die?
November 1555.
Did Mary co-operate with her government?
Yes! She showed a degree of cooperation with her parliament. She did not press the point on the insurance that ex-monastic property would not be restored to the Church.
Was there a crisis in Edwardian government?
Northumberland was anxious to avoid excessie concentration of power that had brought Somerset down, so there was no attempt to re-establish a protectorate. Paget had set up guidelines for the more effective operation of the Privy Council, some of which Northumberland implemented.
Did Mary I have a crisis with religion?
Mary threw away any genuine support she may’ve had because she failed to realise that the country had undergone a massive change for a generation. Changes back to Catholocism had to be slow, but she rushed into them. She saw her warm welcome as an acceptance to Catholicism rather than opposition to Northumberland and Lady Jane Grey.
How was Mary successful in her religious policy?
1) she had the pope reinstated as head of the church and, on paper, repealed England as a Protestant country.
2) Maary killed 287 people, but this was the contemporary punishment for heresy at the time.
3) the burnings were successful. Many were enthusiastically involved with getting rid of ‘heretics’ and by 1558, the numbers of those being burned were falling.
Before Mary died, were there signs of religious acceptance?
Yes! Before the queen died, there were many signs that her religious policies had broad acceptance.
Mary was a staunch Catholic, but did she have Protestant support?
Yes - she often downplayed her own faith to gain more support.
When did the harvests fail? What effects did these have?
1555 and 1556. This meant food shortages and a severe strain on real wages.
Other than the harvests, what economic/financial issues did the Marian government have?
The ‘sweating sickness’ only worsened an already bad situation as the death toll became the worse of the century.
There was also high tax in order to pay for the war in France.
Overall, was there a crisis in Marian England?
No, it was more of a success. There were problems - high tax and inflation - but these were outweighed by Mary’s financial reforms, which made the economy a lot more secure and efficient in the long term.
Did Mary implement Northumberland’s ideas to help the economy?
Yes. In 1554, Northumberland’s ideas in order to improve the administration of the crown’s finances were put into place. For example: the court of Exchequer took of the Court of First Fruits and Tenths and the Court of Augmentations.
When was the Book of Rates introduced?
1558 - it raised customs revenue dramatically.
True or false - under Mary, England was financially unstable.
False! It was financially stable, despite being at war.
