OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
Monarchy and Democracy in Britain c.1000 to 2014 (J410/09) -…
Full specification wording
Power: Monarchy and Democracy in Britain c.1000 to 2014 (J410/09) - c.1485–c.1800: Tudor government: growth of royal power under Henry VIII; the role of Parliament under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
This topic examines how royal and parliamentary power developed in Tudor England.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic examines how royal and parliamentary power developed in Tudor England. Under Henry VIII royal power grew: he broke with Rome in the 1530s, made himself head of the Church of England, and used Parliament to pass the laws that enacted the Reformation, such as the Act of Supremacy. Parliament's role under Henry VIII was therefore to legitimise the king's religious and political changes rather than to challenge him. Under Elizabeth I Parliament met more often and debated taxation, religion and the succession, and some MPs pressed the queen on issues such as her marriage and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. Elizabeth still controlled when Parliament met and what it could discuss, so royal power remained dominant even as Parliament's confidence grew. Learn to distinguish growth of royal power from the changing role of Parliament, and use named statutes or issues as evidence.
What earns the marks
- Explains how Henry VIII increased royal power, including his break with Rome and role as head of the Church of England.
- Describes Parliament's role under Henry VIII in passing laws that enacted the king's religious changes.
- Explains that Parliament under Elizabeth I debated taxation, religion and the succession.
- Describes how Elizabeth I still controlled when Parliament met and what it discussed, showing continued royal dominance.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claims Parliament under Henry VIII limited the king's power.
Put it right: Recognise it mainly legitimised his changes.
Assumes Elizabeth I never faced parliamentary pressure.
Put it right: MPs raised issues such as marriage and the succession.
Treats royal power and parliamentary power as equal under the Tudors.
Put it right: Keep royal dominance central.
Confuses the break with Rome with a later monarch.
Put it right: Keep it under Henry VIII in the 1530s.
Exam tips
- Use named statutes or issues (for example the Act of Supremacy, taxation, the succession) as evidence.
- Separate the growth of royal power from the changing role of Parliament in your answer.
- Note who controlled Parliament's meetings and agenda to show the balance of power.
Try the lesson
The start of the Power: Monarchy and Democracy in Britain c.1000 to 2014 (J410/09) - c.1485–c.1800: Tudor government: growth of royal power under Henry VIII; the role of Parliament under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which body did Henry VIII use to give legal force to his break with Rome in the 1530s?
Listen
This topic examines how royal and parliamentary power developed in Tudor England. Under Henry VIII royal power grew: he broke with Rome in the 1530s, made himself head of the Church of England, and used Parliament to pass the laws that enacted the Reformation, such as the Act of Supremacy. Parliament's role under Henry VIII was therefore to legitimise the king's religious and political changes rather than to challenge him. Under Elizabeth I Parliament met more often and debated taxation, religion and the succession, and some MPs pressed the queen on issues such as her marriage and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. Elizabeth still controlled when Parliament met and what it could discuss, so royal power remained dominant even as Parliament's confidence grew. Learn to distinguish growth of royal power from the changing role of Parliament, and use named statutes or issues as evidence. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how Henry VIII increased royal power, including his break with Rome and role as head of the Church of England. Describes Parliament's role under Henry VIII in passing laws that enacted the king's religious changes. Explains that Parliament under Elizabeth I debated taxation, religion and the succession. Describes how Elizabeth I still controlled when Parliament met and what it discussed, showing continued royal dominance. Exam tip: Use named statutes or issues (for example the Act of Supremacy, taxation, the succession) as evidence.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Growth of royal power
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Parliament as a law-making body
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Religion and the break with Rome
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Parliamentary pressure under Elizabeth I
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See every definition
- Growth of royal power
- Under Henry VIII royal power grew: he broke with Rome in the 1530s and made himself head of the Church of England.
- Parliament as a law-making body
- Under Henry VIII its role was to legitimise the king's religious and political changes rather than to challenge him, passing the laws that enacted the Reformation.
- Religion and the break with Rome
- Henry VIII broke with Rome in the 1530s, made himself head of the Church of England, and used Parliament to pass laws such as the Act of Supremacy.
- Parliamentary pressure under Elizabeth I
- Parliament met more often and debated taxation, religion and the succession, and some MPs pressed the queen on issues such as her marriage and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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