In the Years Between 1547-1558, English Government Was at Its Most Effective During the Rule of Mary I
“In the years 1547-1558, English government was at its most effective during the rule of Mary I” How valid is this statement? (45 marks)
Government is the governing body of a nation, and during Tudor England, the government was the monarch, due to royal prerogative. Also, for a government to be classed as effective, it must have been successful in achieving a desired outcome. I believe that Edward was a more effective monarch than Mary between 1550 and 1553 due to the work of Northumberland, because during this time the government had effective financial, foreign and religious policies, and an effective internal security.
An effective foreign policy could be described as making alliances, gaining land with beneficial resources and wealth, and not getting invaded, all of which Edward succeeded whilst having Northumberland as his advisor. During the period of 1547-1549, Edward’s regent, Somerset, created a rather unsuccessful and ineffective foreign policy, with him not gaining an alliance with France and his Scottish foreign policy failing. Somerset did try to gain an alliance with Scotland, which would have gained security benefits for Edward, because he was a minor and with Mary Stuart marrying the French heir, France had an opportunity to challenge England’s regency government. However, peace would have been better for the economy and stability during the royal minority, rather than an active foreign policy. Heard argues that Somerset really had to take up the war against Scotland left by Henry VIII in order to see it through to its end, the marriage of Edward VI and Mary Stuart. However, Houlbrooke disagrees and believes Somerset intended that his great achievement would be the Scottish marriage and then he would hold Scotland with permanent garrisons of English and mercenary troops; he did not have to follow Henry VIII’s policy. Overall, Somerset’s foreign policy had politically failed because his obsession with Scotland had influenced him to delay dealing
Government is the governing body of a nation, and during Tudor England, the government was the monarch, due to royal prerogative. Also, for a government to be classed as effective, it must have been successful in achieving a desired outcome. I believe that Edward was a more effective monarch than Mary between 1550 and 1553 due to the work of Northumberland, because during this time the government had effective financial, foreign and religious policies, and an effective internal security.
An effective foreign policy could be described as making alliances, gaining land with beneficial resources and wealth, and not getting invaded, all of which Edward succeeded whilst having Northumberland as his advisor. During the period of 1547-1549, Edward’s regent, Somerset, created a rather unsuccessful and ineffective foreign policy, with him not gaining an alliance with France and his Scottish foreign policy failing. Somerset did try to gain an alliance with Scotland, which would have gained security benefits for Edward, because he was a minor and with Mary Stuart marrying the French heir, France had an opportunity to challenge England’s regency government. However, peace would have been better for the economy and stability during the royal minority, rather than an active foreign policy. Heard argues that Somerset really had to take up the war against Scotland left by Henry VIII in order to see it through to its end, the marriage of Edward VI and Mary Stuart. However, Houlbrooke disagrees and believes Somerset intended that his great achievement would be the Scottish marriage and then he would hold Scotland with permanent garrisons of English and mercenary troops; he did not have to follow Henry VIII’s policy. Overall, Somerset’s foreign policy had politically failed because his obsession with Scotland had influenced him to delay dealing