Somerset 1547 - 1549

Question 1

Factors that brought discontent

Answer 1

-> Rapid inflation: reduction in wages, debased coinage, to finance a war against Scotland - caused social distress
-> Enclosures - big political issue, put people of out of. Unregulated.
-> Taxation: money had been raised for Scottish war

Question 2

Problems of Somerset’s reign

Answer 2

-> Took control by rewarding himself & his supports with promotions - i.e. self proclaimed himself as “Duke of Somerset”
-> Encouraged factional rivalries. Turned lots against him.
-> Badly mishandled rebellions
-> Foreign Policy: badly handled Scotland
-> People wanted his power to end

Question 3

What was Somerset’s character?

Answer 3

Arrogant and dictatorial