Nature 2 - Size, Frequency, Duration

Question 1

How many rebels were involved in the Cornish rebellion of 1497?

Answer 1

• 15,000

Question 2

How many rebels were involved in the Amicable Grant rebellion of 1525?

Answer 2

• 10,000

Question 3

How many rebels were involved in the P.O.G rebellion of 1536-37?

Answer 3

• 40,000

Question 4

How many rebels were involved in Kett’s rebellion of 1549?

Answer 4

• 15,000

Question 5

How many rebels were involved in Wyatt’s rebellion of 1554?

Answer 5

• 5,000

Question 6

How many rebels were involved in the Northern Earls rebellion of 1569?

Answer 6

• 5,000

Question 7

How many rebels were involved in Essex’s rebellion of 1601?

Answer 7

• 300

Question 8

How many rebels were involved in the Oxfordshire rebellion of 1596?

Answer 8

• 4

Question 9

Why did the size of rebellions, in England, decline?

Answer 9

• Due to the failure of previous rebellions Social groups that often led rebellions became incorporated into the state through offices such as Poor Law administrators.
• Rebellions became more about high Politics and this did not raise popular support

Question 10

Why did some Nobles still partake in rebellion?

Answer 10

• They were impoverished or excluded and thus had nothing else left to loose

Question 11

What happened to the trend in the size of Irish rebellions over time?

Answer 11

• It increased. Typically they were relatively small ( as they only involved a particular clan) however the exception was Tyrone’s rebellion as he raised 6000 people.

Question 12

When was rebellion most frequent and why?

Answer 12

• Under Henry VII’s reign because he was insecure and had gained the throne by force. There were alternative claimants and foreign powers were willing to support them. Henry needed money to defeat the threats and raised taxes, causing further unrest.
• The mid-Tudor period, 1536-54, because the crown was weak due to religious turmoil and rule by a minor and female. This coincided with a period of rising prices and social problems.

Question 13

Why did the frequency of rebellion under Elizabeth decline?

Answer 13

• The Tudors became more secure and removed rival claimants, such as the Poles, the leading Yorkist family with a claim to the throne. The Countess of Shrewsbury had been executed in 1541 by Henry VIII.
• The Elizabethan Church Settlement was moderate and helped to remove religious tensions that had caused unrest in the mid-Tudor-period.
• Social and economic problems peaked in the mid-1540s and, although the 1590s were a time of economic hardship, government legislation, such as the Poor Law, helped lessen the impact.
• The role of JPs and Lord Lieutenants was developed under Mary and Elizabeth; they helped to deal with issues at a local level.
• The gentry became less willing to lead rebellions and was incorporated into serving the state as JPs.
• Parliament and law courts were used more frequently to resolve disputes.

Question 14

What factors increased the duration of rebellion?

Answer 14

• When rebellions were further away from London it took longer to send a force there. This is why Irish rebellions in particular often lasted a number of years.
• The Government underestimated the seriousness of the rebellion which meant it took longer to suppress. This was the case in Kett’s rebellion of 1549

Question 15

Which regions had rebellions that lasted a long time?

Answer 15

• North - Pilgrimage of Grace lasted over 2 months.
• South-West - The Cornish rebellion lasted over a month, and Western rebellion over two months

Question 16

Why did some rebellions only last a short amount of time?

Answer 16

• The were near or in London so they threatened the seat of government. Consequently, the government raised troops quickly.
• Wyatt’s rebellion only lasted 18 hours, and Essex (1601) was put down in 12 hours.