A-Level History: Henry VIII's Last Years, 1540–47

This material covers the final seven years of Henry VIII's reign, from the execution of Thomas Cromwell in July 1540 to the king's death on 28 January 1547. In the category it bridges the material on the break with Rome and the 1530s and the material on the mid-Tudor crisis, a period the Tudor breadth studies (for example AQA's 'The Tudors: England, 1485–1603') expect you to know but which revision guides often pass over.

The material is organised around four questions that A level essays often ask about these years. First, who controlled policy? It follows the rivalry between the conservatives around the Duke of Norfolk and Bishop Gardiner and the evangelicals around Cranmer, Catherine Parr and the Seymours, through Catherine Howard's rise and fall, the Prebendaries' Plot against Cranmer, the burning of Anne Askew and the fall of the Howards in the last weeks of the reign, and asks how far Henry remained in charge. Second, which way was religion moving? It covers the conservative King's Book, the restrictions on Bible reading in 1543, the English Litany and the Chantries Act. Third, what did Henry's last wars achieve, and at what cost? It covers Solway Moss, the Treaty of Greenwich and the Rough Wooing, the capture of Boulogne and the Treaty of Ardres, and the financing of war through debasement, land sales, forced loans and taxation. Fourth, how was the kingdom left? It covers the Laws in Wales Act, the new title of King of Ireland, the Third Succession Act and the will that shaped Edward VI's minority.

The quiz uses chronology questions, multiple-answer questions and short scenarios, such as who could still read the Bible aloud under the 1543 Act. The flashcards fix the people, statutes, treaties and dates. The written work sets eight explanation and essay-style tasks, such as how far faction controlled policy in the 1540s, each with a reference answer and key points. The oral exam asks you to explain and justify your judgements aloud, one question at a time, and ends with brief feedback.

The content is based on the Tudor content of the A level History specifications; the depth expected on these years differs between boards and papers, so check your own specification.

• Explain the rivalry between conservative and evangelical factions in the 1540s and assess how far Henry controlled it
• Describe the direction of religious policy from 1540 to 1547
• Explain the aims, course and results of Henry's wars with Scotland and France
• Explain how the wars were financed and the consequences for the crown's finances
• Describe the changes in the government of Wales and Ireland
• Explain the arrangements for the succession and the regency council

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the Tudor content of the A level History specifications (for example AQA 1C, The Tudors: England, 1485–1603), period 1540–47.