Past Questions

Specimen question

7 Assess the importance of the alliance between Scotland and France in shaping Tudor foreign policy during the period from 1485 to 1603.

8 Which was more important in determining Tudor foreign policy: national security or

economic gains? Explain your answer.

9 How do you explain the deteriorating relations between England and Spain in the course of the Tudor period?

June 2010

7 How far was personal ambition the main influence in shaping Tudor foreign policy?

8 ‘Continuity rather than change characterised England’s relations with France in the period from 1485 to 1603.’ How far do you agree with this view?

9 Assess the importance of the Netherlands in England’s relations with the Burgundian and Spanish Habsburgs in the period from 1485 to 1603.

Jan 2010

No available material

June 2009

10 Assess the importance of economic factors in influencing Tudor foreign policy Focus: Assessment of economic factors in the wider context of affecting Tudor foreign policy No set conclusions are to be expected, but candidates must answer the question and address the theme over the full period. Candidates are likely to assess a range of economic factors and compare them with other influences that affected foreign policy making. Essays are likely to stress the importance of finance which restricted the conduct of all administrations, though less so in the 1540s and 1580s. Limited finances resulted in defensive and prudent foreign policies and the increasing importance of continental allies. Better answers should examine trade issues, particularly in the reigns of Henry VII, Mary and Elizabeth, and some candidates may reflect on England’s industrial and commercial interests that were adversely affected by Henry VIII and Edward. To go beyond Band III, candidates must compare economic with other factors to gauge its relative importance. Areas for assessment may include religious, political, personal and dynastic factors. Some of these influences were at times more important than economic and of course some candidates may argue that economic factors were never predominant. The best essays may assess economic factors thematically or chronologically before reaching an argued conclusion. Alternative explanations are possible and examiners must be open to alternative approaches. If in doubt, consult your Team Leader.

11 How do you explain the changes in Anglo-Scottish relations during the period from 1485 to 1603? Focus: Explanation for the changing relations between England and Scotland. No set conclusions are to be expected, but candidates must answer the question and address the theme over the full period. In 1485, and for much of the early period, Scotland was England’s ‘postern gate’ that French troops might exploit and they were present in Scotland until 1560. English armies invaded Scotland in 1513, 1542, 1547 and 1560, and threatened invasion in 1497. Much of this enmity was traditional but under Henry VIII and Somerset, war was a result of personal Candidates may suggest the expulsion of the French court and troops in 1560 brought major changes since a Protestant and pro-English faction was installed in Edinburgh. Coming at the same time as Anglo-Spanish relations started to decline, Elizabeth cultivated friendly relations with the French regent, Catherine de Medici. Similarly the arrival in England of Mary Queen of Scots in 1568 brought a change in relations. Cecil tried to use Moray and Morton to secure a pro-English faction at the Scottish court, which worked until 1581. Relations with James VI were uneasy but never poor. He toyed with conversion to Catholicism and welcomed his French cousin Esmé Stuart to his court between 1579-81. Elizabeth was reluctant to acknowledge James as her heir; he was reluctant to abandon his mother. Matters were only resolved in 1586-7 when he accepted a pension and Mary was executed. Candidates should assess various reasons for change, including Henry VII’s Treaty of Ayton, Henry VIII’s and Somerset’s determination to wage war, the Scottish Reformation, the arrival of Mary Stuart in England, and the consequences of the French Wars of Religion and the Dutch Revolt. Expect better candidates to cover most of these developments thematically. Alternative explanations are possible and examiners must be open to alternative approaches. If in doubt, consult your Team Leader.

12 How far was Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon the main turning-point in Anglo-Spanish relations in the period from 1485 to 1603? Focus: Evaluation of the impact of the divorce on Anglo-Spanish relations

No set conclusions are to be expected, but candidates must answer the question and address the theme over the full period. A turning-point may be taken to mean a significant change and candidates should be expected to assess the consequences of the divorce for Anglo-Spanish relations, as well as suggest alternative turning-points, such as Spain’s acquisition of the Netherlands and policies towards it that were adopted by Philip II after 1556; or Drake’s plundering of Spanish colonies and ships after 1570; or improvements in England’s relations with Scotland and France after 1560, which placed less emphasis on England retaining her friendship with Spain. The divorce harmed dynastic relations until the accession of Mary but her marriage to Philip proved that amity could be restored albeit superficially. However the divorce also sparked Henry VIII’s break from Rome and England’s subsequent establishment of a Protestant church which led to hostility under Philip II. Some candidates may play down the significance of the divorce in favour of other turning-points, such as the Scottish rebellion, the French wars of religion, the Dutch Revolt and Drake’s piratical activities, with perhaps the personalities of Elizabeth and Philip as pivotal. This approach is fine provided any elements of continuity and change are assessed from 1485 and beyond 1533.

Jan 2009

10 How far did the Tudors have consistent aims in their foreign policy? [60] Focus: Evaluation of foreign policy aims across the period No set conclusions are to be expected, but candidates must answer the question and address the theme over the full period.

The main aims behind Tudor foreign policy were national security, trade agreements, continental expansion and dynastic alliances. National security and trade agreements were consistently pursued although, if there was a conflict of interest, trade yielded to political security. Keeping the Netherlands neutral or out of enemy hands was a constant objective. Dynastic and marriage alliances were consistently pursued by Henry VII, Henry VIII and Mary, and less so by Edward VI and inconclusively by Elizabeth – although the latter used her unmarried status as a pawn in foreign diplomacy. Candidates should point out however that there were inconsistencies in the Tudors’ attitude towards war. Henry VII avoided war if possible but engaged in continental alliances; Henry VIII devoted much time and money to waging war against Scotland and France; Somerset continued this policy towards Scotland but Northumberland totally changed it; Mary was also opposed to war but was drawn into it by Philip, and Elizabeth avoided direct conflict for as long as possible before going to war with Spain for the last 18 years of her rule. War was a last resort for most of the Tudors with the exception of Henry VIII and Somerset. Religious reforms also brought changes in allies and foreign commitments. The best candidates are likely to explain the more prevalent trends and account for any inconsistencies.

11 Assess the impact of the personalities of English monarchs on relations with France from 1485 to 1603. [60] Focus: Evaluation of personalities as a factor affecting Anglo-French relations No set conclusions are to be expected, but candidates must answer the question and address the theme over the full period.

Anglo-French relations were affected by a number of factors, one of which was the personality of English monarchs. Candidates should consider the Tudor rulers, all of whom went to war with France, and where appropriate French rulers, some of whom were particularly aggressive and ambitious towards England and Scotland. Henry VII tried to avoid war but felt he needed to restrain Charles VIII from overrunning Brittany and threatening England. The vain Henry VIII liked war and wanted to extend English lands in France but was rebuffed by the equally prickly Francis I, who used the Scots to the advantage of France. The weak and Protestant inclined Edward VI had to contend with the war-minded Henry II, who was determined to recover Boulogne, and Mary, ever loyal to her husband, was forced to surrender Calais to France in 1558. Elizabeth, eager to avoid financing a war to recover Calais, sought a rapprochement with France after 1564, and was aided by their expulsion from Scotland in 1560. Thereafter, she did her best to befriend the French without ceding to their demands. Candidates are likely to argue that although personalities were important, additional factors influenced relations, especially the role of Spain as an ally and later an enemy of England, and the changing religious and political conditions in France, England and Scotland. A balanced argument is expected from the better candidates.

To what extent was Tudor foreign policy influenced by English interests in the Netherlands? [60]

The Netherlands was important to England throughout the Tudor period for economic and political reasons. Henry VII established trade links with Burgundy, which grew stronger as time passed and held firm in spite of interruptions in 1493-6, 1503-6, 1527-8 and 1562-4, until the Dutch Revolt in 1572. The subsequent decline led to a re-assessment of overseas markets and the Elizabethan interest in transatlantic trade. Burgundian support for the Yorkists brought political security to the fore in Henry VII’s reign but Henry VIII’s friendship with Charles V, and Mary’s marriage to Philip, lessened its political significance until the outbreak of the Dutch Revolt. This necessitated Leicester’s intervention in 1586-7, which hastened war with Spain. The growth of Calvinism in the Netherlands in the 1550s onwards brought religion as an issue – Elizabeth’s implicit support for the Sea Beggars and Dutch rebels (explicit after Nonsuch) ensured the Netherlands after 1572 was central to Tudor foreign policy and remained important enough for Elizabeth to secure Dutch cautionary towns in the 1590s in return for English aid after the Armada. Better essays should assess the importance of the Netherlands to England and compare it with other factors, such as responding to the more powerful states of France and Spain, and securing dynastic alliances. Weaker essays are likely to offer a chronological narrative and comment, with an imbalanced assessment of the Netherlands and other determinants.

June 08

Themes; Attitudes of monarch (ties in with treaties), involvement of the French, perceived threat

Jan 08

Remember the focus is how far!

Initially consider when it was and was not a major issue.

At times it was not important- henry VII was able to appease the Scots, which gave him a free hand in FP towards the French. 1489 truce let him do what he wanted in the Breton Crisis. By 1497 he was generally fine with the Scottish, although as he did not want to pursue radical policies with the French, he was not really influenced by relations with the Scots.

Henry VIII initially didn’t give enough consideration to Scotland, hence why his invasion of France led to his northern border being attacked. Invasions of France in 1522 had nothing to do with the Scots. But on the other hand our invasion of Scotland in 42 (attempts to secure a marriage with the Scots) and our invasion of rance in 1544 are potentially linked.

Somerset does not want to anger France, but he is fearful of them and so invades Scotland in 47 to prevent more French involvement.

Mary support Spain against France but ignores Scotland.

Does

Start of Henry VII

Does end of Henry VIII

Somerset CAN YOU DIENIFY DIFFERENCES AS WELL?

Doesn’t

Later on in Henry VII’s reign

Start of Henry VIII’s reign

Mary

Other factors

June 07

Jan 07

June 06

Jan 06

June 05

Jan 05