The Tudors and the Stuarts

Introduction
The Tudor and Stuart periods cover the years from 1485 to 1714. This time in British history was full of changes in religion, politics, and society. There were strong monarchs, religious conflicts, and civil wars. These events shaped modern Britain.

1. The Tudors (1485 – 1603)
1.1. Henry VII (1485 – 1509)
The Tudor period began with Henry VII. He became king after the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, which ended the Wars of the Roses. Henry VII brought peace and stability to England.

End of Wars of the Roses: The Wars of the Roses were a series of battles between two families, the Lancasters and the Yorks, for the English throne. Henry VII, a Lancaster, defeated Richard III, a York, to become king.
Marriage: Henry VII married Elizabeth of York to unite the two families and bring peace.

1.2. Henry VIII (1509 – 1547)
Henry VIII is one of the most famous English kings. He had six wives and made big changes to the church in England.

The English Reformation: Henry VIII wanted a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, but the Pope refused. So, Henry made himself head of the Church of England, separating it from the Catholic Church. This was called the English Reformation.

Dissolution of the Monasteries: Henry closed many monasteries and took their wealth. This gave him more money and power.

His Wives:
Catherine of Aragon (divorced)
Anne Boleyn (executed)
Jane Seymour (died)
Anne of Cleves (divorced)
Catherine Howard (executed)
Catherine Parr (survived)

1.3. Edward VI (1547 – 1553)
Edward VI was Henry VIII’s son. He became king when he was only nine years old, but he was sick and died young.

Protestant Changes: During Edward’s reign, the Church of England became more Protestant. Latin services were changed to English, and the Book of Common Prayer was introduced.

1.4. Mary I (1553 – 1558)
Mary I was Henry VIII’s daughter and a Catholic. She tried to make England Catholic again.

"Bloody Mary": Mary I was called "Bloody Mary" because she ordered the execution of many Protestants who refused to convert to Catholicism.
Marriage: Mary married King Philip II of Spain, but they had no children.

1.5. Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603)
Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her reign is known as the Elizabethan era, a golden age for England.

The Elizabethan Religious Settlement: Elizabeth made a compromise between Catholics and Protestants, making the Church of England the main church but allowing some Catholic practices.
The Spanish Armada (1588): In 1588, Spain sent a large fleet, called the Armada, to invade England. Elizabeth’s navy defeated the Armada, and this made England more powerful.
Arts and Culture: Elizabeth’s reign was a time of great cultural growth. William Shakespeare wrote many of his famous plays during this period.

2. The Stuarts (1603 – 1714)
2.1. James I (1603 – 1625)
James I was the first Stuart king. He was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and became king after Elizabeth I died without children.

Union of the Crowns: James was already king of Scotland when he became king of England, uniting the two countries under one ruler.
King James Bible: In 1611, the King James Bible was published. It is still used today and is considered one of the best English translations of the Bible.

2.2. Charles I (1625 – 1649)
Charles I, James I’s son, wanted to rule without Parliament. This led to conflicts and, eventually, civil war.

The English Civil War (1642 – 1651): The war was between the Royalists (supporters of the king) and the Parliamentarians (supporters of Parliament). It ended with Charles I being captured and executed in 1649.
The Commonwealth: After Charles I’s execution, England became a republic called the Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell.

2.3. The Commonwealth and Protectorate (1649 – 1660)
Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector during this time. He had a lot of power but was not a king.

Strict Rule: Cromwell and his supporters were Puritans and imposed strict rules, banning fun activities like dancing and theatre.

2.4. The Restoration (1660)
After Cromwell died, people wanted a king again. In 1660, Charles II, son of Charles I, was invited back to be king. This is called the Restoration.

Charles II (1660 – 1685): Known as the "Merry Monarch," Charles II brought back the theatre and other fun activities. He worked with Parliament but also wanted more power.

2.5. James II (1685 – 1688)
James II was Charles II’s brother. He was Catholic, and this worried many people because England was now a Protestant country.

The Glorious Revolution (1688): In 1688, James II was overthrown without a fight in the Glorious Revolution. His Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, became rulers.

2.6. William III and Mary II (1689 – 1702)
William and Mary ruled together after the Glorious Revolution. They signed the Bill of Rights, which limited the power of the king and gave more power to Parliament.

The Bill of Rights (1689): This document is very important in British history. It stated that the king or queen could not rule without Parliament’s consent and protected certain rights of citizens.

2.7. Anne (1702 – 1714)
Queen Anne was the last Stuart monarch. During her reign, England and Scotland united to form Great Britain in 1707.

Act of Union (1707): This act joined England and Scotland into one country, Great Britain, with one Parliament.

Important Events and Changes
1. The English Reformation
The English Reformation was a time of great religious change. Henry VIII started it when he made the Church of England separate from the Catholic Church. This led to many conflicts between Catholics and Protestants.

2. The English Civil War
The English Civil War was a major conflict between King Charles I and Parliament. It was about who should have more power. The war ended with the king being executed, and for a short time, England was a republic without a king.

3. The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution happened in 1688. It was called "glorious" because there was no fighting. King James II was replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband William. This event showed that Parliament was more powerful than the king.

4. The Growth of Parliament
During the Tudor and Stuart periods, Parliament became more important. Kings and queens had to work with Parliament, especially when they needed money for wars. The Bill of Rights in 1689 gave Parliament more power and limited the powers of the monarch.

Everyday Life During the Tudor and Stuart Periods

1. Life in Tudor Times
Food: Rich people ate a lot of meat and used spices. Poor people ate bread, vegetables, and sometimes meat.
Clothing: Rich people wore clothes made of fine materials like silk and velvet. Poor people wore simple clothes made of wool.
Homes: Rich people lived in large houses or castles. Poor people lived in small, wooden houses with thatched roofs.

2. Life in Stuart Times
Work and Trade: Many people worked on farms. Trade with other countries grew, and goods like sugar, tea, and tobacco became popular.
Entertainment: People enjoyed going to the theatre. William Shakespeare's plays were very popular. There were also fairs, music, and dancing.
Religion: Religion was very important, and there were conflicts between different religious groups, such as Catholics, Protestants, and Puritans.

Summary
The Tudor and Stuart periods were times of big changes in England. Kings and queens gained and lost power, and Parliament became more important. There were conflicts over religion, and the English Civil War changed the country forever. The period ended with the Act of Union in 1707, creating Great Britain.

Important Dates to Remember
1485: Henry VII becomes king, beginning the Tudor dynasty.
1534: Henry VIII creates the Church of England.
1588: The defeat of the Spanish Armada.
1642 – 1651: The English Civil War.
1649: Execution of Charles I.
1660: The Restoration of the monarchy with Charles II.
1688: The Glorious Revolution.
1689: The Bill of Rights is signed.
1707: The Act of Union creates Great Britain.

Multiple Choice Questions

1 - Who became king after the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485?

A) Richard III
B) Henry VII
C) Henry VIII
D) Edward VI


2 - Why did Henry VIII create the Church of England?

A) To be friends with the Pope
B) To marry more than one wife at the same time
C) To divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn
D) To become king of Spain

3 - Which queen tried to make England Catholic again and was known as "Bloody Mary"?

A) Elizabeth I
B) Mary I
C) Anne
D) Mary, Queen of Scots

4 - Which fleet did England defeat in 1588?

A) The Dutch Armada
B) The French Fleet
C) The Spanish Armada
D) The Viking Fleet

5 - What was the English Civil War about?

A) Who should be king of France
B) Who should have more power, the king or Parliament
C) The rights of the Catholic Church
D) Building a new palace in London

6 - Who ruled England after the Civil War as Lord Protector?

A) Charles II
B) James I
C) William of Orange
D) Oliver Cromwell

7 - What was the Glorious Revolution?

A) A peaceful change of rulers in England
B) A war between England and Spain
C) The end of the Tudor dynasty
D) A rebellion in Scotland

8 - What did the Act of Union in 1707 do?

A) Made England and Scotland separate countries
B) Joined England and Scotland into one country, Great Britain
C) Created the British Empire
D) Made Wales a separate kingdom

9 - Which queen was the last of the Stuart dynasty?

A) Mary II
B) Elizabeth I
C) Anne
D) Mary, Queen of Scots

10 - Who was the first Stuart king of England?

A) Henry VIII
B) Charles I
C) James I
D) William III

True or False Questions

1 - The Tudor period began with Henry VIII’s reign in 1509.

2 - Elizabeth I defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.

3 - The English Civil War was a conflict between the king and Parliament.

4 - Oliver Cromwell was king of England during the Commonwealth.

5 - The Bill of Rights in 1689 gave more power to the king.

6 - The Glorious Revolution was a violent and bloody war.

7 - Henry VIII had six wives and created the Church of England.

8 - James I was the son of Elizabeth I.

9 - The Act of Union in 1707 created Great Britain.

10 - Queen Anne was the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty.


Short Answer Questions

1 - Why did Henry VIII create the Church of England?

2 - Who was known as the "Merry Monarch"?

3 - What was the English Civil War about?

4 - Who became king after the Glorious Revolution?

5 - What did the Act of Union in 1707 do?

6 - What did the Bill of Rights in 1689 achieve?

7 - Who was the first Stuart king of England?

8 - What was the main conflict during the English Reformation?

9 - Which book was published during James I’s reign and is still used today?

10 - Why is the Glorious Revolution called “glorious”?