Post by Mr Modica on Sept 25, 2013 12:14:13 GMT
REBELLIONS
Political and religious discontent are amongst the primary causes for the rebellions between 1547 and 1558, however, it is unjust to ignore the idea that other factors were involved.
Economical issues have to be considered of paramount importance, as the economy in England at this time was struggling. Therefore, in order for a ruler to be successful a flourishing economy needed to be restored.
A major factor in the Western Rebellion of 1549 was the introduction of a novel sheep tax. The West Country already had a history of rebellions against novel taxation by this time, so it is unsurprising they rebelled again after a new tax was implemented. This indicates that economic factors were at the forefront of the rebels minds, as they were once again, rebelling against a new taxation.
Furthermore, in the same demands of 2 July 1549, complaints were made against the clergy for withholding baptism and burial services.
This is further evidence suggesting economic factors caused the rebellion as the clergy only withheld these services, from those who could not afford them. This could however be argued as a religious factor, but it was not a complaint regarding beliefs, but the refusal of services based on financial grounds. This further suggests economic factors caused the rebellion because the refusal of such necessary religious ceremonies based upon financial grounds, would have greatly irritated the people of Devon, leading to a rebellion.
Additionally, another rebellion which was aided by economic discontent was Wyatt’s Rebellion in 1559. A pivotal reason for suggesting this is that in January 1554 Wyatt gathered troops in Maidstone, and by the end of January he had gained 2000 rebels to fight against Mary. A key point to make is that Wyatt chose Maidstone to gather his rebels. Maidstone was a centre for wood and cloth trade and at the time the trade was in decline. Therefore the locals would be more willing to fight against Mary, as they would be struggling financially, due to poor trade. If the trade wasn’t in decline, it is fair to say that Wyatt wouldn’t have attained the same amount of support, indicating the importance of finance in the rebellion.
Although it appears Wyatt’s rebellion was strongly supported due to economic factors, it is evident that religious factors played a more that substantial role in fuelling the rebellion. All of the four main conspiracies were protestant, seeking to remove Catholic Mary from the throne.
Although the protestant links are clear, with Carew even introducing the Protestant literacy of Ireland in 1551, Wyatt always claimed there were no religious aims behind the revolt. This is clearly untrue however, as the rebels intended on removing Mary from the throne, to replace her with her protestant Sister, Elizabeth. Therefore religious discontent is clearly a factor in Wyatt’s rebellion, as they wish to return the country to Protestantism by removing the Catholic Mary and installing protestant Elizabeth as Queen.
A religious element can also be found in the cause of the Western Rebellion of 1549. It is said that rebels disliked receiving common bread during mass and didn’t believe children should have to wait until adulthood to gain confirmation to their religion. With religion being a major part of every body’s lives, this was bound to anger people, as with such a high infant mortality rate, parents would want their children confirmed at an early age, to increase their chances of going to heaven. It is therefore evident that religious factors encouraged the rebellion; as such beliefs from the church would infuriate worried parents.
However, Kitts Rebellion is another example of how finance plays an important role: MacCuloch said that revels wanted to reform abuses of the social system, whereby lords were working for and with other lords to increase their income. Furthermore, using Phelps Broans index where 1450-75 equals 100. By 1549 the index (which is the price for goods) reached 193. The rebels in Norwich would be infuriated by this as they simply wouldn’t have enough money to survive, as 696 of the city dwellers owned 60% of the agricultural land. With such little money, the people of Norwich were bound to rebel.
Having said this, Ketts rebellion is also very clearly politically based, as it is due to politics, that the rebellion started. In June 1549, Edward issued pardons to rebels who tore down hedges which were followed by John Hales introducing their bills against enclosure. With such mixed messages being sent out, the rebels believed they had the central government on side, by tearing down hedges, especially as the government had passed acts against enclosure. Therefore, it is bad government and mixed messages which helped to cause the rebellion.
Overall, economic factors were the key to the rebellions which threatened the Tudor State, as it is finance and economics which dictate a nation’s quality of life. After the coinage was debased under Somerset and then Northumberland, it is clear, England were not economically stable. If people are leading a lower standard of life than they expect due to finance, then they are more likely to rebel, henceforth economic factors were the primary cause of rebellions which threatened the Tudor state between 1547 and 1558, not political and religious discontent.
Political and religious discontent are amongst the primary causes for the rebellions between 1547 and 1558, however, it is unjust to ignore the idea that other factors were involved.
Economical issues have to be considered of paramount importance, as the economy in England at this time was struggling. Therefore, in order for a ruler to be successful a flourishing economy needed to be restored.
A major factor in the Western Rebellion of 1549 was the introduction of a novel sheep tax. The West Country already had a history of rebellions against novel taxation by this time, so it is unsurprising they rebelled again after a new tax was implemented. This indicates that economic factors were at the forefront of the rebels minds, as they were once again, rebelling against a new taxation.
Furthermore, in the same demands of 2 July 1549, complaints were made against the clergy for withholding baptism and burial services.
This is further evidence suggesting economic factors caused the rebellion as the clergy only withheld these services, from those who could not afford them. This could however be argued as a religious factor, but it was not a complaint regarding beliefs, but the refusal of services based on financial grounds. This further suggests economic factors caused the rebellion because the refusal of such necessary religious ceremonies based upon financial grounds, would have greatly irritated the people of Devon, leading to a rebellion.
Additionally, another rebellion which was aided by economic discontent was Wyatt’s Rebellion in 1559. A pivotal reason for suggesting this is that in January 1554 Wyatt gathered troops in Maidstone, and by the end of January he had gained 2000 rebels to fight against Mary. A key point to make is that Wyatt chose Maidstone to gather his rebels. Maidstone was a centre for wood and cloth trade and at the time the trade was in decline. Therefore the locals would be more willing to fight against Mary, as they would be struggling financially, due to poor trade. If the trade wasn’t in decline, it is fair to say that Wyatt wouldn’t have attained the same amount of support, indicating the importance of finance in the rebellion.
Although it appears Wyatt’s rebellion was strongly supported due to economic factors, it is evident that religious factors played a more that substantial role in fuelling the rebellion. All of the four main conspiracies were protestant, seeking to remove Catholic Mary from the throne.
Although the protestant links are clear, with Carew even introducing the Protestant literacy of Ireland in 1551, Wyatt always claimed there were no religious aims behind the revolt. This is clearly untrue however, as the rebels intended on removing Mary from the throne, to replace her with her protestant Sister, Elizabeth. Therefore religious discontent is clearly a factor in Wyatt’s rebellion, as they wish to return the country to Protestantism by removing the Catholic Mary and installing protestant Elizabeth as Queen.
A religious element can also be found in the cause of the Western Rebellion of 1549. It is said that rebels disliked receiving common bread during mass and didn’t believe children should have to wait until adulthood to gain confirmation to their religion. With religion being a major part of every body’s lives, this was bound to anger people, as with such a high infant mortality rate, parents would want their children confirmed at an early age, to increase their chances of going to heaven. It is therefore evident that religious factors encouraged the rebellion; as such beliefs from the church would infuriate worried parents.
However, Kitts Rebellion is another example of how finance plays an important role: MacCuloch said that revels wanted to reform abuses of the social system, whereby lords were working for and with other lords to increase their income. Furthermore, using Phelps Broans index where 1450-75 equals 100. By 1549 the index (which is the price for goods) reached 193. The rebels in Norwich would be infuriated by this as they simply wouldn’t have enough money to survive, as 696 of the city dwellers owned 60% of the agricultural land. With such little money, the people of Norwich were bound to rebel.
Having said this, Ketts rebellion is also very clearly politically based, as it is due to politics, that the rebellion started. In June 1549, Edward issued pardons to rebels who tore down hedges which were followed by John Hales introducing their bills against enclosure. With such mixed messages being sent out, the rebels believed they had the central government on side, by tearing down hedges, especially as the government had passed acts against enclosure. Therefore, it is bad government and mixed messages which helped to cause the rebellion.
Overall, economic factors were the key to the rebellions which threatened the Tudor State, as it is finance and economics which dictate a nation’s quality of life. After the coinage was debased under Somerset and then Northumberland, it is clear, England were not economically stable. If people are leading a lower standard of life than they expect due to finance, then they are more likely to rebel, henceforth economic factors were the primary cause of rebellions which threatened the Tudor state between 1547 and 1558, not political and religious discontent.