1. ‘ To what extent was there a crisis in... 1540-1569?’
What words can you add to make a complete question?

2. The 6 key Tudor Questions
How effectively did the Tudors restore and develop the powers of monarchy?
Links to lack of royal authority in this period, factionalism
In what ways and how effectively was England governed during this period?
As above, plus government mistakes that led to rebellion/discontent in local areas
How did relations with foreign powers change and how was the succession secured?
Foreign policy success but at great cost with detrimental economic effects. Succession a BIG problem under Edward and Mary

3. The 6 key Tudor Questions
How did English society and economy change and with what effects?
Economic hardship, inflation, enclosure etc. This also links to rebellions (e.g. Kett’s, Western)
How far did intellectual and religious ideas change and develop and with what effects?
This one should be obvious!
How important was the role of key individuals and groups and how were they affected by developments?
Impact/role of reformers and conservatives. All sorts of possible key individuals involved!

4. The Mid-Tudor period – a quick recap

5. Tudor government
Most of the important decisions were taken by the monarch and a small group of advisers (the Privy Council)
Statutes (laws) had to be passed by Parliament, but Parliament did not meet all the time
Parliament met when called by the monarch
The government could influence which MPs were chosen.

6. Tudor society
Population increase. 2.3 million in 1500 to 3 million in 1547
Increase in demand for goods (e.g. food) led to inflation
Higher population meant wages dropped and rents were raised
Shift from grain farming (tillage) towards sheep and cattle farming (for wool and leather). This meant less food was produced, and it was more expensive
Enclosure leads to poverty and tensions
Increased migration to towns

7. Learning objectives Be able to explain the phrase mid- Tudor crisis
Know the main arguments that support the view that there was a mid-Tudor crisis
Know the main arguments against

8. Mid Tudor Crisis
Traditional View –

9. What is the Mid- Tudor Crisis theory?
English government and society were on the verge of collapse. This was the result of weak rulers, economic pressure, rebellions, and religious upheaval. Although there was no collapse, this was an unproductive period of government. Also, these reigns are far less important than those of Henry VIII (earlier part) and Elizabeth I’s golden years

10. Weak rulers: Why?
In his later years, Henry was chronically unwell. Access to the King was controlled by Anthony Denny, a key member of the Reform faction
Edward VI was merely the pawn of Somerset and Northumberland
Somerset genuinely cared about the people of England, but was a poor politician; his policies were a major cause of the 1549 rebellions
Northumberland was a better politician, but his policies were morally questionable, and benefitted the rich at the expense of the poor
Mary I was intolerant and dogmatic; this was demonstrated by the burning of heretics. She appeared to be controlled by Philip.
Elizabeth was young and inexperienced.
Get students to give a bit of evidence for Somerset caring, Somerset being a poor politician, policies leading to rebellions.
How was Northumberland a more successful politician? Look at how he controlled the Privy Council.

11. Economic problems: What?
Real wages fell by as much as 60% in this period, (a time when 80% of the average worker's wages were spent on food.)
Debasement of the coinage to pay for foreign wars, and population growth were the major causes of economic problems
Why do you think real wages fell so much? What did this lead to? Bring out economic causes of Kett’s rebellion (and to an extent Western rebellions and Wyatt’s rebellion)
How far can we blame economic problems on the monarch? Focus on debasement and foreign wars.

12. Rebellions: Can you name them? What caused them?
The Western Rebellion of 1549 was largely a reaction to Somerset’s religious reforms. Could the government be blamed for this rebellion?
Kett’s Rebellion of the same year was caused by economic factors. Could the government be blamed for this rebellion?
Wyatt’s Rebellion can be traced to Mary’s marriage to Philip, among other factors. What does this suggest about Mary?
The Northern Rebellion was partly religious and partly in response to Elizabeth’s mishandling of the Northern Earls. Could the government be blamed for this rebellion?
How effectively were the rebellions handled?
How could Kett’s rebellion be linked to poor decisions in government? Bring out idea of Somerset raising hopes.

13. Faction fighting and unstable government
Henry’s later years were dominated by factional struggles (Conservatives vs Reformers)
Somerset came to power after a power struggle between conservative and radical elements within Henry’s government.
Despite the execution of his brother, Somerset continued to be the victim of faction fighting, ultimately leading to the rise of Northumberland
Northumberland himself had to quell an attempted coup by Somerset
Mary had a large privy council (prone to factionalism)
Mary’s marriage to Philip was unpopular and divisive
Somerset not a very canny ruler. Did not govern by consensus. Therefore lived or died by his policiies.
Execution of Thomas Seymour backfires. Makes him look ruthless.

14. Foreign Policy Failures
Rough wooing in Scotland. Successful in military terms, but huge impact economically. Ditto France campaign under Henry VIII
Somerset’s war with Scotland= unsuccessful; it was ended by Northumberland
This war also led to economic problems within England as well as social unrest
Mary’s war with France (supporting Philip and the Spanish) led to loss of Calais and debt
Importance of Scotland – leads to war with France too, which means military overstretch (garrisoning Scotland and South coast)
Economic problems: debasement specifically, but wars are always expensve.
Loss of Calais – huge blow to national pride. Was the last remaining English possession in France.

15. Local Grievances
A vacuum of power in local politics allowed local problems to grow.
The demands of Kett’s and Wyatt’s Rebellions are evidence of unsolved local issues growing into significant uprisings.
The Northern Rebellion is evidence of discontent at central government policies and of Elizabeth’s mishandling of the Northern nobility
Examples of local power vacuums link to Kett’s rebellion (Duke of Norfolk in prison and his family are hated) and Courtenay family (E Courtenay in prison)
Western rebellion: murder of William Body shows hatred of local officals
Kett’s rebellion: asked the government to intervene against Howard mismanagement.

16. Religious Upheaval
This was a period of huge religious change, including the moderate Protestant reform of Somerset, the radical Protestant reform of Northumberland, and the return to traditional Catholicism under Mary followed by a moderate(but controversial) settlement under Elizabeth
Religious reforms significant in the Western Rebellion, Wyatt’s Rebellion and the Northern Rebellion
Reforms were not made secure by either ruler.

17. Succession Crisis
Northumberland’s attempt at altering the succession angered not only Mary’s Catholic supporters but also others who accepted Mary as the rightful heir
This was unsuccessful but led to further instability at the heart of government
Mary was then suspicious of many of Edward’s privy council?

18. Reasons why the “crisis” theory has been popular
1. H’s and Eliz’s reigns saw lasting change e.g. break with Rome. English official church is Church of England.
2. Elizabeth’s defeat of Spain appealed to historians writing during the British Empire
3. C of E = part of English culture in Victorian times. Mary’s reign seemed “foreign”.
4. Popularity of Foxe’s book of martyrs- reinforced “Bloody Mary” image.
5. Films and TV focus on dramatic events of H’s and E’s reigns.

19. How would you define a crisis in government?
Come up with a list of possible indications that a country is in crisis.

20. Discuss briefly – you might not have evidence for all of them.
Revisionists argue there was no crisis based on the following key points. What evidence is there to support each point?
1. “Crisis” is an exaggeration 2. Strength of the State 3. Continuity in Government 4. Comparisons with other periods 5. The 4 Rebellions were not a major threat 6. Economic Problems have been exaggerated 7. Strengths of the Rulers
Discuss briefly – you might not have evidence for all of them.

21. The revisionists

22. Loades
‘The true significance of the reigns of Edward and Mary lies less in what happened than in what did not happen’.
What does he mean by this?
Parliament not destroyed
Royal supremacy intact
England’s independence not lost
No faction-driven civil wars

23. N. Heard
“At no time, even in 1549, was the country in danger of collapse, and for most people life went on as normal.”
How far do you agree with this?
Bring out idea that most rebellions were put down locally. Rebels never attempted to march on London.

24. 1. Based on your opinion of what constitutes a crisis, are the revisionists right to suggest that this was not a crisis?
2. If it is true that the situation was worse in other periods, does this prove there was no crisis in Mid-Tudor times?
3. If the situation was no worse than in other periods of time, why does it seem worse under Edward and Mary?
4. Do you agree that Somerset, Northumberland and Mary ruled effectively?

25. Post-revisionists
Revisionists have gone too far in downplaying the problems faced in this period, in several key areas:
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
England was facing severe economic hardship.
Even accepting the mitigating factors offered by the revisionists, the "big fact" is that 80% of wages were spent on food during this time, but that those wages were 60% less in 1559 than 50 years earlier.
Compounded with consecutive harvest failures following heavy rains in 1556 and 1557, and an outbreak of sweating sickness in 1551 and 1552, the commons were facing a traumatic situation.
The epidemics of 1556 and 1558 reduced the population by 200,000 (6%), with the death rate at twice its normal level.

26. Matusiak
4. This period was one of constant religious uncertainty, with England vacillating between moderate and radical Protestantism and reactionary Catholicism within the space of two decades. In addition, the loss of Calais and Bolougne in particular damaged English national pride and contrast with the relatively successful ventures of Henry VIII. The fact that Parliament had to be dissolved in 1549, 1550, 1552 and 1553 demonstrates the instability faced at the upper echelons of government.

27. Matusiak
While the problems were by no means unique in the Tudor period, the conjuncture of all of them within the space of 25 years was unique, and made the period particularly volatile.
He argues that this period was no crisis because the essential state machinery was not under threat, but that it was a time of trauma during which the state's efforts were focused on survival rather than achievement.

28. Was there a mid-Tudor crisis? Questions to discuss.
How would you define crisis?
In what ways were these years of crisis?
Were the problems they faced of their own making?
Was Mary more successful than Edward or vice versa?
Were they successful/unsuccessful in the same areas?
How far could they be seen to be unlucky rather than incompetent?
Which historian do you agree with most and why?
Which historian do you disagree with most and why?