‘Rebellions in the years 1549-1571 stemmed from the weakness of central government.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Whenever you are confronted with an exam question, it is crucial to take a few moments to step back and think about what the question asks you to do. Most obviously, this question asks you to write about rebellions in the period 1549-1571 and whether their cause was the weakness of central government. However, the question’s specification of a 22-year period implicitly asks you to consider whether the causes of these rebellions changed over time. You are also asked to offer a collective judgement about the rebellions’ causes: do you agree that they stemmed from central government weakness? The key thing to do in your answer is to consider different factors in addition to the weakness of central government, and then to offer a judgement, supported by evidence, as to how far you agree that weak central government was the cause of the rebellions. Considering other factors (such as religious and socio-economic causes) demonstrates that you are aware of the inter-causal nature of historical events, as well as your command of the subject area.

The following structure would be recommended for this question. Your introduction should concisely identify the key rebellions of the period (the 1549 Western and Kett’s Rebellions, the 1554 Wyatt’s Rebellion, and the 1559/60 Northern Rebellion) and the key areas you will consider. Your first paragraph (or two) should then consider how far the rebellions could be considered the consequence of weak central government. This involves an assessment of the strength of central government generally and how this may have contributed to the emergence of revolt. Aspects to consider here include: the idea of a ‘Mid Tudor Crisis,’ that central government had little control over local economic problems whilst being blamed for them, and that central government relied on the local nobility and JPs to implement and impose policies. Once you have considered whether the rebellions were caused by a weak central government, the subsequent paragraphs should each consider a different cause, in descending order of importance. Religion is a key factor in nearly all the period’s rebellions. Aspects to consider include the impact of the Protestant policies of Edward’s government, Mary I’s Catholicism, and the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Other possible factors include socio-economic causes, such as the impact of tax increases and the effects of enclosure. Wider political causes, such as the role of political discontent and ambition, and the uncertainty of the succession throughout the period could also be considered. Finally, your conclusion should briefly summarise the key points of your argument, but most importantly it MUST offer a balanced judgement, supported by evidence, on whether the 1549-1571 rebellions were caused by weak central government. For example, you could conclude by arguing that whilst weak central government appears to have facilitated rebellions, as it lacked the resources (political, military) to contain discontent before it erupted into rebellion, it does not seem to have promoted them. Rather, religious change, with its often traumatic religious and social effects, appears to have been the key causal factor for rebellions during the period, aggravated by other socio-economic factors.