Nature 8 - Success & Failure

Question 1

Give an example of a successful rebellion and explain why it was successful

Answer 1

The Amicable Grant, 1525.

• It had considerable support, growing from 4000
• There was cross class support
• there was resistance in London, which threatened the government
• Henry could make successions without loosing power
• Henry could blame Wolsey for the tax and by abandoning it improve his own reputation

Question 2

Name the rebellions which the government made concessions to

Answer 2

• Yorkshire - The tax was not collected and the rebels not fined
• Cornish - The tax was not collected but the rebels were fined
• P.O.G - Rebels were pardoned, but the parliament promised in the north was not called. Religious changes were slowed down. Entry fines wee set at the level demanded, the 1534 subsidy was stopped and the Statute of Uses repealed
• Kett - Subsidy and Vagrancy Acts repealed. Enclosure Act restricts landlords’ rights over common land. Acts fix grain prices and maintain arable
• Western - Sheep and Cloth tax abandoned
• Oxfordshire - Seven landowners prosecuted for enclosing the common land. Acts passed against decaying towns and to maintain arable land.

Question 3

What made a rebellion more successful?

Answer 3

• were usually taxation rebellions as the government was more willing to make concessions
• were well led, often by gentry, lawyers or yeomen
• had cross class support

Question 4

Which type of rebellions were more likely to fail?

Answer 4

Ones aimed at overthrowing the monarch or changing major government policies

Question 5

Why were dynastic rebellions dealt with effectively?

Answer 5

The government had to deal with them effectively to maintain their position; Particularly true for Henry VII and Mary. Military action was often taken against dynastic threats, as with Simnel and Wyatt.

Question 6

Why were religious rebellions dealt with effectively?

Answer 6

It would have shown weakness and encouraged further unrest if they reversed religious changes.
The concessions made after P.O.G were temporary and soon reversed.

Question 7

How were the concessions made after religious rebellions reversed?

Answer 7

• Henry VIII closed the larger monasteries in 1558
• Edward VI did not abandon the Prayer Book in 1549 after the Western Rebellion
• Mary did not abandon Catholic policies after Wyatt’s rebellion
• Elizabeth introduced penal laws against Catholic recusants after the Northern Earls in 1569

Question 8

Why did rebellions fail?

Answer 8

• Many lacked support or leadership from the gentry or yeomen and this meant they lacked adequate leadership
• Government tactics, such as pardons, encouraged some to disperse. The government played for time so rebel supplies ran out, they needed to return for the harvest or divisions developed
• The threat of a royal army caused some to desert
• The government forces were superior and defeated the rebels every time. The government could also call on foreign mercenaries, as in 1549.
• Many rebellions were about local issues and therefore did not attract widespread support. Kett’s rebellion was about grievances in East Anglia and the Cornish was about tax in the country.
• The rebels failed to capture London. When the rebels reached London the government acted quickly, the Cornish were slaughtered at Blackheath, the gates were closed on Wyatt and Essex was met with force.
• Foreign aid either failed to arrive, as in the Northern Earls, or was too small, as with Simnel.