Mock Stuff - How Effective was Government in the Reigns of Edward and Mary

Question 1

How were they effective in keeping peace

Answer 1

1. All rebellions were suppressed eventually convincingly by royal army
2. Northumberland and Mary diplomatically negotiated with foreign powers to ensure that peace was kept throughout England - treaty of Bolougne
3. No rebellions under Northumberland

Question 2

What effective laws were passed / how well was the country rules?

Answer 2

1. Poor law 1552 under North - giving money to help impotent poor
2. North also stopped enclosures to protect arable farming
3. North and Mary used skillful men in council to ensure that laws not proclamations were passed
4. Under Mary the poor suffered from poor harvests and dearth - did what they could to reduce suffering espec in cloth towns

Question 3

How effective were they managing finance?

Answer 3

1. Northumberland - 1550 - 1553 cut debts by 45%
2. Crown lands collected more effectively by Winchester - cut corruption = more revenue under North
3. 1551 cuts debasement = confidence in coinage - North
4. Mary - Exchequer used again and lands surveyed to set more realistic rents by Book of Rates increase by 30k - during time of poor harvests it greatly helped Eliz long run
5. Plan to improve coinage but wasn’t actually used until Eliz

Question 4

How ineffective in keeping peace?

Answer 4

1. Due to crippling Scottish wars, the government was extremely ineffective in suppressing Kett and Western rebellion - slow to reach and could have ended more disastrous under Ed
2. Peace often came at a large cost -losing Calais and Boulogne resulted in humiliation and depression in England
3. Lady Jane Grey was actually Queen for nine days - rebellion worked in changing the succession

Question 5

How were the laws ineffective / ineffective laws passed?

Answer 5

1. Mary’s persecution of Protestants and unpopular policy - complaints grew - bad image etc
2. Somerset’s repeal of treason act allowed religious debate and argument at a time when strong direction was needed

Question 6

Bad financial stuff?

Answer 6

1. Somerset pursued crippling Scottish war and garrison policy which costed half a million pounds - exposed Eng to domestic threats (Kett and Western) and foreign powers potentially invading
2. His measures to raise money unimaginitive and bad for the country - debasement, selling crown lands and high interest loans = weakened
3. Northumberland continued debasement = increased inflation and suffering until he stopped