Paper 3, Option 31: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603 - 1 Changes in governance at the centre — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 31: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603 - 1 Changes in governance at the centre explained
Paper 3, Option 31: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603 - 1 Changes in governance at the centre covers 2 specification points, including Reform of the Privy Council 1540).
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and Church-state relations, including the impact…. Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
Government and administration, 1485–1603, including changes made to structure and function of the household, changes in the role of Secretary, establishing the post of lord lieutenant (key development: reform of the Privy Council 1540).
This topic covers Tudor central government and administration from 1485 to 1603. It examines changes to the royal household, particularly its structure and function, such as the growth of the Privy Chamber and its political role. It also considers the evolving role of the Secretary, who became a key royal adviser and administrator. The establishment of lord lieutenants is studied as a means of extending royal control into the localities, especially for defence and taxation. The key development is the reform of the Privy Council in 1540, which streamlined its membership and functions, making it a more effective instrument of royal policy. These changes collectively strengthened central authority and improved coordination of governance.
Crown, church and parliament, 1485–1603: church-state relations, including the impact of the Reformation (key developments: the Acts of Supremacy of 1534 and 1559, the Elizabethan religious settlement); development of the concepts of sovereignty of statute and parliamentary privilege; the extent of change in the relationship between crown and parliament.
This topic traces how the crown, church and parliament interacted across the Tudor century. Church-state relations were transformed by the Reformation: the Act of Supremacy 1534 made Henry VIII head of the Church of England, while the Act of Supremacy 1559 restored royal supremacy under Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan religious settlement of 1559 combined the Act of Uniformity and the Royal Injunctions to create a via media. These changes encouraged the concept of sovereignty of statute, meaning that law made in parliament could define doctrine and succession. Parliamentary privilege, especially freedom of speech and freedom from arrest, also developed as MPs debated religious and political matters. The extent of change in crown-parliament relations is debated: some historians stress growing institutional confidence, others emphasise continued royal control through patronage and management.
Your focus
- Describe the changes to the structure and function of the royal household between 1485 and 1603.
- Explain how the role of the Secretary developed and its importance in Tudor government.
- Evaluate the significance of the establishment of lord lieutenants and the reform of the Privy Council in 1540 for the effectiveness of Tudor governance.
Show all 6 objectives
- Explain how the Acts of Supremacy of 1534 and 1559 changed church-state relations.
- Analyse the nature and impact of the Elizabethan religious settlement.
- Evaluate the extent of change in the relationship between crown and parliament, 1485–1603.
Paper 3, Option 31: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603 - 1 Changes in governance at the centre flashcards
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Royal household
Paper 3, Option 31: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603 - 1 Changes in governance at the centre exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains how the structure and function of the royal household changed, including the rise of the Privy Chamber and its separation from the wider household.
- Describes the changing role of the Secretary, from a minor official to a principal adviser and administrator, often with responsibility for intelligence and foreign correspondence.
- Explains the establishment of lord lieutenants as royal representatives in the counties, responsible for militia and local defence, and later for taxation and order.
- Analyses the reform of the Privy Council in 1540, which reduced its size, clarified its role, and made it a more professional and effective body for advising the monarch and implementing policy.
- Assesses the overall impact of these changes on the effectiveness of Tudor government and the balance of power between monarch, council and localities.
- Explains how the Act of Supremacy 1534 transferred headship of the church from the pope to Henry VIII and how this reshaped church-state relations.
- Analyses the Act of Supremacy 1559 and the Elizabethan religious settlement as a deliberate compromise between Catholic and Protestant practice.
- Assesses the development of sovereignty of statute, showing how parliamentary law became the instrument for defining religious settlement and royal authority.
- Evaluates parliamentary privilege, including freedom of speech and freedom from arrest, and how these were asserted in Tudor parliaments.
- Judges the extent of change in crown-parliament relations, weighing evidence of growing parliamentary assertiveness against continued monarchical dominance.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Use specific examples, such as Thomas Cromwell or William Cecil, to illustrate the role of the Secretary.
- 💡Link changes in governance to the broader theme of rebellion and disorder, showing how central control was maintained.
- 💡Be precise about dates, especially 1540 for the Privy Council reform, and explain its significance.
- 💡Link each key development to the concept it illustrates, for example the 1534 Act to sovereignty of statute and the 1559 settlement to royal management of religion.
- 💡Use precise dates and names of measures to show secure knowledge rather than general statements about the Reformation.
- 💡When judging extent of change, set criteria such as who initiated legislation, how often parliament met, and whether the crown could still control outcomes.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the Privy Council with the Privy Chamber: the Council was a formal advisory body, while the Chamber was the monarch's private household. Correction: define each clearly and distinguish their functions.
- Assuming the role of Secretary remained static: it evolved significantly, especially under Thomas Cromwell and William Cecil. Correction: trace changes over time.
- Overlooking the local impact of lord lieutenants: they were crucial for linking central government to the counties. Correction: explain their role in local administration and defence.
- Treating the 1534 and 1559 Acts of Supremacy as identical: the correction is to distinguish Henry VIII's break with Rome from Elizabeth I's restoration of royal supremacy after Mary I.
- Assuming the Elizabethan religious settlement was fully Protestant: the correction is to recognise its deliberately ambiguous, via media character, retaining some Catholic forms while asserting Protestant doctrine.
- Describing parliamentary privilege as modern democracy: the correction is to explain it as limited Tudor privileges, not sovereignty of the people or universal suffrage.