Thomas Cromwell Elton Thesis

Question 1

What is the Elton Thesis?

Answer 1

The Elton Thesis is an argument made by the historian Geoffrey Elton in which he claimed that Thomas Cromwell changed the nature and the direction of the way in which England and Wales were governed so fundamentally that they resulted in a ‘Revolution’ in Government.

Question 2

What is the evidence FOR a bureaucratic revolution in Government under Cromwell?
( 4 Factors)

Answer 2

1. The Emergence of the Privy Council as the engine of government, now including lawyers and bureaucrats, fewer people with no more than 20 members.
2. The Development of specialised departments of government such as financial courts e.g Court of Augumentations
3. Role of the King’s principal secretary (Cromwell) as co-ordinating minister rather than Lord Chancellor.
4. This new system meant that clergymen and nobles were now no longer needed (as much) meaning that professional administrators were hired.

Question 3

What is the evidence FOR a political revolution in government under Cromwell.
(Four factors)

Answer 3

1. King and Parliament became King In Parliament
2. If future monarchs wanted to change the law they would have to consult parliament before hand.
3. Parliament was used more as Cromwell needed it for the statue of law to make the religious changes of the reformation.
4. Parts of England held a semi-independent status as they were governed by Bishops - e.g Durham.

Question 4

What is the evidence FOR a constitutional revolution in government under Cromwell?
(5 Factors)

Answer 4

1. The clergy were now a minority in the house of lords.
2. Henry had become head of the state and head of the church
3. Parliament legislated in areas of government and church where it hadn’t before.
4. 14 new boroughs were given the right to elect an MP
5. 1536, Wales recognised local government and principlaity of the borderlands - extension of Royal Authority over Wales and Semi-Independent regions.

Question 5

What was the act of liberties?

Answer 5

The Act of Liberties (1536) resulted in power being taken away from the magnates over pieces of land that they ruled and brought it in line with national juridstriction (Royal Authority).

Question 6

What is the evidence AGAINST a bureaucratic revolution in government under Cromwell?
(3 Factors)

Answer 6

1. Government remained essentially personal, it reflected the ideals of the monarch and those who handled finance were loyal servants awaiting reward.
2. Some specialisation had already taken place in the medieval era and not all of Cromwell’s reforms lasted.
3. There is debate as to whether this new privy council was as a result of the 1530s or after Cromwell’s fall.

Question 7

What is the evidence AGAINST a political revolution in government under Cromwell?
(2 Factors)

Answer 7

1. Parliament was used less by later Tudor Monarchs
2. Parliament developed because the king needed its support - Cromwell wrote in 1533 that the kingdom was under the Autocratic rule of the king.

Question 8

What is the evidence AGAINST a constitutional revolution in parliament under Cromwell?

Answer 8

1. Number of Bishops increased slightly after the dissolution. Peers had increased to 55 by 1534
2. The Crown already had influence over churhc appointments and emergency taxation.