Question 1

What was the main cause of the Peasants' Revolt?

Accepted Answer

The main cause was the imposition of the poll tax in 1380, which was a flat-rate tax on every adult, hitting the poor hardest. This came after years of economic hardship caused by the Black Death, which had reduced the labour force and led to attempts by landowners to freeze wages. The revolt was also fuelled by resentment against corrupt officials and the Statute of Labourers, which tried to keep wages low.

Question 2

How did the Wars of the Roses end?

Accepted Answer

The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, where Henry Tudor (Henry VII) defeated Richard III. Henry then married Elizabeth of York, uniting the houses of Lancaster and York, and established the Tudor dynasty. He also used propaganda, such as the Tudor rose symbol, to promote peace and stability.

Question 3

Why did Charles I and Parliament clash?

Accepted Answer

Charles I believed in the divine right of kings and wanted to rule without Parliament's interference. He clashed with Parliament over money (he needed taxes they refused to grant), religion (he supported High Anglican rituals that Puritans hated), and his attempt to arrest five MPs in 1642, which sparked the Civil War. Parliament also wanted more control over the king's ministers and the army.

Question 4

What was the significance of the Petition of Right (1628)?

Accepted Answer

The Petition of Right was a document that Parliament forced Charles I to agree to, which stated that the king could not tax without Parliament's consent, imprison people without cause, or quarter soldiers in private homes. It was significant because it asserted legal limits on royal power, but Charles later ignored it, showing the ongoing struggle between crown and Parliament.

Question 5

How did the English Civil War change the balance of power?

Accepted Answer

The English Civil War led to the temporary abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords, and the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. Although the monarchy was restored in 1660, the war had shown that the king could be defeated and held accountable. It also strengthened Parliament's role in governance and led to the Bill of Rights (1689), which formally limited royal power.

Question 6

What role did religion play in challenging royal authority?

Accepted Answer

Religion was a major factor because monarchs often tried to impose their religious beliefs on the country. For example, Charles I's support for Archbishop Laud's reforms angered Puritans, who saw them as too Catholic. Similarly, Mary I's persecution of Protestants and James II's Catholicism led to opposition. Religious differences often aligned with political grievances, making challenges to royal authority more intense.

Challenging royal authority

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