Social discontent and rebellions (4) Flashcards
What living conditions like for the poor during the second half of the fifteenth century and why?
They appeared to be improving, real wages seemed to have increased but towards the end of the fifteenth century inflationary pressures were becoming more evident.
Where does the evidence point that there was an increase in real wages?
In the 1490’s
What had England seemed to have avoided?
The subsistence crises- when harvest failure raises food prices to such an extent that significant numbers of the poor die from starvation.
What are the two rebellion that take place in Henry VII reign and when did they happen?
1) The Yorkshire Rebellion in 1489
2) The Cornish Rebellion in 1497
What was the main trigger for both of the rebellion in Henry VII’s reign?
Taxation, a demand for extraordinary revenue to finance a far-away military campaign.
What was the Yorkshire Rebellion sparked off by?
Resentment of the taxation granted by Parliament in 1489 in order to finance the involvement of English forces in the campaign in Brittany.
Why did the Yorkshire Rebellion become particularly notorious?
Because of the murder by the rebels of the Earl of Northumberland just outside Topcliffe near Thirsk in the North Riding of Yorkshire in April of that year.
Why was Northumberland involved in the Yorkshire Rebellion?
He was a victim of resentment against taxation.
What happened to Northumberland?
He was murdered by his tenants, but what enabled them to murder the earl was the fact that Northumberland’s retainers allowed them do do so by deserting him in his hour of nee - as punishment for his own desertion of Richard III at Bosworth.
What triggered The Cornish Rebellion?
The need for revenue to finance the campaign against Scotland.
Why did the Cornish Rebellion pose a much greater threat to the stability of Henry’s rule? (3)
1) The sheer numbers involved (15,000 according to some estimates).
2) The attempt to exploit the rebellion made by Perkin Warbeck.
3) The fact that the rebels marched on London, only being halted at Blackheath.
What was a cause for immense concern for the Crown?
That the rebels marched such a long distance without any serious attempt being made to stop, raising questions about how effective were the Crown’s systems for maintaining order in the countryside were.
What did, the rebels reaching London result in?
Them challenging Henry VII’s regime.
What did Henry VII need to do in order to ensure its effective suppression?
He needed to withdraw Lord Daubeney and his troops from defending the Scottish border.
Who easily crushed the rebellion?
Daubeney
