Henry VIII and the Reformation of England’s Church System
How did events during Henry VIII’s reign cause for a permanent shift in the religious system of England?
Hannah Snow
Candidate Number: 000784-0009
Extended Essay Abstract:
Henry VIII was the King that would change England’s religious system and make it his legacy. The religious system would carry on after his reign and become the predominant religion of England. The question is: How did events connected to key historical figures during Henry VIII’s reign cause for a permanent shift in the religious system of England? This question will be answered by analyzing events related to key historical figures during Henry VIII’s reign. These events will not be a biographical representation of any one historical figure, but relayed in connection to the topic of this paper in order to provide an answer for the essay question. This method is being utilized because it provides an analytical perspective, while also providing a personal appeal by tying the facts in with historical figures. History is not just facts, it is a story, and like any good story it should pull a reader in and make them interested. The historical figures utilized will be Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer due to their direct correlation to the change in the religious system of England. The sources utilized were chosen and implemented in relation to how they encompassed concepts related to historical
The concept of a ‘mid-Tudor crisis’ arrived under the scrutiny of modern scholarship largely through a priori reasoning and was first broadly promulgated by W.R.D. Jones in his 1973 book “The Mid Tudor Crisis1539-1563”. Jones attested a series of problems that “seem to have been ever-present in mid-Tudor England” (Jones, 1973, p. 6), exhibiting a “close relationship” (Jones, 1973, p. 6) with one another as a ‘crisis’. This compounded succession of agricultural volatility, deficiencies in administrative decree, specifically “the troubled shadowed reigns of Edward VI and Mary I,” (Jones, 1973, p.19) and divisive religious reformation, as Jones was to surmise, directly resulted in fluctuations
To make an effective religious policy, there must be no opposition, it needs to be enforced, the monarch’s beliefs should be equal to the country’s beliefs, it should be stable with no ambiguity and people should conform. During the period of 1547-1549, Edward’s regent, Somerset, created a rather ineffective religious policy, with there being no clear statement of doctrine and with him repealing the treason acts and heresy laws, unrest was created, with people being able to voice their opinions without punishment. The First Book of Common Prayer was the main source of rebellion, because it was said to be too radical by some in the move towards Protestantism, but not radical enough by others, by being designed to keep the Catholics happy through the continuation of some practices, showing that it satisfied no-one. As well, the Prayer Book was not enforced during services, showing that it was an ineffective act. Also, it was rather irresponsible to implement religious changes when at war, because the soldiers were
King Henry VIII was an important figure in helping to kick start the Reformation in England, even though it was not his intent. His break with the Papacy and his constantly changing ideas on how the new Church of England should be run gave the Protestants the foothold they needed to gain popularity in Europe. Although his intentions were purely politically motivated, he started a change in the way the layman viewed the church and how it should be run.
During the constant changes of Europe’s religious stances in the 16th century, many countries were fighting for a their own religious standpoint. This unrest lead to revolts and wars and because of the subject’s religious differences in a socially unstable society, these conflicts came between and divided the country. This issue was greatly shown in England, where new governmental policies made participants of the Pilgrimage of Grace to worry for the well being of the commoners in the country. These participants also started to work towards punishing Thomas Cromwell, the head of the King’s council. Those opposed to the movement worried for order, and continued to work for a successful commonwealth.
Beginning in the Middle Ages and through the seventeenth centuries, witch trials occurred in Europe. Many people were accused of being witches some of these people were accused of being witches for not following Christian beliefs at that time and others followed witch prosecutions for goods and money. Furthermore, the stereotypes of witches at this period also had a role in causing witch prosecutions. In this essay I argue how these three components led to the death of so-called witches. Firstly, I will discuss how the Catholic Church had an impact on most prosecutions. Secondly, I will explain how social stereotypes of that period have also influenced with the causes of prosecution of many alleged witches. Thirdly, I will discuss how
The Extent to Which England was a Protestant Country by 1547 In this essay, I shall be exploring the extent of how Protestant a country England was by 1547. The differences between Protestantism and Catholicism form a solid base in order to understand the situation in 1547 and decide which religion became more popular. Traditional Catholic beliefs rested on seven Sacraments: Baptism, Penance and Reconciliation, Last rites, Holy Orders, Marriage and the Eucharist. They believed in ‘Justification by Good works’.
Henry II was educated in England and by the year 1150, he became a duke of Normandy and the counts of Maine, Touraine, and Anjou after his father Geoffrey Plantagenet, who was a wealthy London merchant, died in 1151. Due to his mother’s entitlement to the royal family tree, he claimed the throne and by the High Middle Age, there was a struggle for power between the State and the Church. Moreover, an influx of royal power and crusade expeditions portrayed the seesaw power balance between the two foundations that resulted in the conflict of King Henry II as the King of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket, as the head of the Church. The given study brings to light the reforms King Henry II brought during his reign and the impact they had on his rule and the conflict that arose between Thomas Becket because of the reforms the King made.
On Friday, May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, former Queen of England, was executed for high treason and adultery, her head severed from her body by an expert swordsman, the only concession given her by her ex-husband King Henry VIII. How, in so short a time, had the woman that Henry had defied the religious tradition of England for, divorcing his wife and changing the history of religion in his country, whom he pursued relentlessly for years, fallen so far, so quickly? To understand one must examine Henry’s desperate need for a male heir, understand the politics of the time, and the personality of Anne Boleyn herself. Anne’s involvement with religion, politics, foreign affairs and fashion are still being seen centuries after her death. Filled
The overtaking of the Church of England began when Henry VIII became king. He initiated the
14. ’05 Compare and contrast the motives and actions of Martin Luther in the German states and King Henry VIII in England in bringing about religious change during the Reformation.
Henry the VIII was the second English Tudor king, after his father, Henry VII. He reigned over England from, 21st April 1509 until, 28th January 1547. During his childhood and his first marriage, Henry was a firm believer of the Catholic Church and of the Pope. However things changed and later in Henrys reign the English reformation came to England; the monasteries were closed and Henry separated himself from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry was definitely starting to look more and more like a protestant. There are many points that we can use to decipher whether or not Henry VIII was really Catholic or Protestant and in this essay these points will be discussed to draw a conclusion.
Henry VIII's Reformation In 1529 Henry VIII started to reform the Catholic Church in England, however there are different opinions as to why he began these controversial changes. The orthodox view concurs that there was a vast anti-clerical feeling in 16th century England; the corrupt church was unpopular with the masses. However the revisionist view claims that the reformation was actually due to politics. Henry needed a male heir and therefore needed a divorce.
he Anglican Church was the main church in the Victorian Era, it was also known as The Church of England. The Gregorian Mission of Augustine, the english reformation, the excommunication of Elizabeth I and the wider reformation in the mainland of Europe are all events that contributed towards the development of the Anglican Church (Church of England).
Henry VIII’s name will not go down in history due to the role he played in ‘England Reformation’. His reign in many ways left a deeper mark on the mind, heart and face of England than did any event in English history between the coming of the Normans and the coming of the factory.
By researching the life and writings of William Shakespeare, it can be shown that many Christian values and beliefs are displayed through his literary works. In order to understand the religious content in Shakespeare's work it is helpful to first understand what the religious environment in England was like around Shakespeare's time. England, ever since it was ruled by the Romans, had been a Catholic nation. Before Shakespeare's lifetime, a drastic change occurred that completely upended the existing Catholicism of the English people. During King Henry VIII's reign, the English people were, for the most part, content with Catholicism. Through a series of very complex political maneuvers, Henry eventually seized power of the English