Rebellion and Unrest

Question 1

What was the population increase between 1525 and 1551?

Answer 1

2.3 million to 3 million

Question 2

What percent higher were prices in 1530 compared to 1508?

Answer 2

69% higher

Question 3

What social economic issues caused rebellion?

Answer 3

Increased population, high prices, poor harvests, growing poverty, coin debasement, enclosures, depression, collapse of the cloth trade and influenza

Question 4

Why was there religious uncertainty under Somerset?

Answer 4

Because of the changes introduced by Henry VIII, adding to potential for instability

Question 5

When was there unrest in Cornwall?

Answer 5

In 1547 and 1558, William Body attempted to supervise the destruction of images and was murdered

Question 6

Why did Somerset lose support for the war with Scotland?

Answer 6

Because it was expensive and caused coin debasement again, adding to the already rising levels of inflation

Question 7

What did Somerset try to deal with?

Answer 7

He tried to deal with the issue of enclosures

Question 8

How does Somerset try to deal with enclosures?

Answer 8

He set up commissions in both 1548 and 1549 and issued proclamations to stop people from enclosing land, but people took matters into their own hands when landowners did not listen to Somerset’s proclamations, leading to the peasantry beginning to pull down enclosures

Question 9

What unrest occurred in 1548?

Answer 9

Hertfordshire unrest

Question 10

What was introduced in 1547?

Answer 10

The vagrancy acts, which condemned vagrants to slavery for two years for a first offence and life for a second. It was repealed under Northumberland

Question 11

How many counties saw rebellion and unrest in late spring and summer 1549?

Answer 11

25 counties

Question 12

Where did the Western rebellion take place?

Answer 12

It took place between the 6th June and the 17th August in Devon/Cornwall, with 5,000 men

Question 13

Where did the Kett’s Rebellion take place?

Answer 13

It took place between the 8th July and the 27th August in East Anglia, with 16,000 men

Question 14

What happened in the Kett’s rebellion?

Answer 14

Rebels were defeated in east Anglia. They captured Norwich before their subsequent slaughter

Question 15

Why did the rebellions contribute to Somerset’s downfall?

Answer 15

Weaknesses were revealed in Somerset’s government and handling of the rebellions sparked his fall from power in Autumn 1549

Question 16

Why did the Kett’s rebellion work to Northumberland’s advantage?

Answer 16

He successfully surpassed the rebellion and that increased his support, helping his takeover of power in winter 1549-1550

Question 17

Why did the accession of Lady Jane Grey fail?

Answer 17

Northumberland and Mary both raised armed forces but as Northumberland reached Mary’s stronghold in East Anglia his supporters began to desert him, and the Privy Council further abandoned Northumberland as it was in their interests to support the legitimate queen

Question 18

When did Wyatt’s rebellion take place?

Answer 18

In 1554

Question 19

What were the motives behind Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 19

The marriage of Philip to Mary and her Catholic reforms, as many of the rebels were Protestant, and there were social economic issues as it happened at the same time as the collapse of the cloth trade and fear of loss of jobs, along with a rising xenophobic outlook, with a feat that Spanish workers would replace them in jobs

Question 20

What was Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 20

It was meant to be a four-pronged attack on London, but only Kent, under Thomas Wyatt rose. The rebels reached London before their way was barred, and Wyatt was executed, along with giving Mary an opportunity to execute Lady Jane Grey and Guilford Dudley

Question 21

Who was Thomas Stafford?

Answer 21

He attempted to invade in 1557 and was supported by the French, but this was unsuccessful and the throne passed peacefully onto Elizabeth in November 1558