• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

To What Extent Was Cromwell Responsible For Expansions

Extracts from this document...


To What Extent Was Cromwell Responsible For Expansions And Effectiveness Of Government Between 1530 and 1539? The most influential and controversial thesis concerning Cromwell's role in the revolution in government in the 1530s was Elton's 'The Tudor Revolution in Government'. In this work, Elton asses Cromwell "as the most remarkable revolutionary in English history.". Elton argued that Cromwell seized the unique opportunity presented by Henry VIII's martial problems to turn England into a unified, independent sovereign state, ruled by a constitutional monarch through national and bureaucratic institutions. This is certainly true to an extent however it could be argued that these changes were reactionary measures taken by Cromwell rather than as part of the intimated pre-conceived plan on Cromwell's behalf. Thus from the outset that there are two sides to Elton's argument and in answering the question I shall take all aspects of government in turn and analyse the revolution or evolution they went through and to what degree these were of Cromwell's doing. The reform of the Privvy Council has been described by Gunn as the "cornerstone of the revolution in government". In 1530 we see a departure from the mediaeval system of council as used by both Henry's father and Richard III. During the reigns of both of these Kings, the council usually numbered about 200 members with seven or eight professional councillors conducting daily business. However as a reactionary measure to the Pilgrimage of Grace, the council was reformed with twenty permanent members alone retaining their position in that council and it was intended that these members would all be present at meetings conducting royal affairs. ...read more.


I would thus agree with Davies when he said that; "Cromwell appears to have been the last statesman to proliferate new developments on mediaeval principles." Thus I would argue that despite very little infrastructure of finance being changed, those changes in protocol were to a large extent, the work of Cromwell in the 1530s. Elton's theory on the subject is exaggerated but I agree in principal with the notion that Cromwell was key in the coming about of these changes to royal finances. With regard to the King's Household, Elton exaggerated the extent to which 'normal' mediaeval government was centred on the household - e.g. the chamber finance of Edward IV and Henry VIII was an emergency measure, part of the rebuilding of royal power after the breakdown of the 1450s and 60s. By Henry's own reign, with the successful restoration of royal authority, household government was less necessary. Elton's revolution theory is that the role of the household was diminished by the creation of individual departments acting in the King's interests rather than on his personal command in every matter. The King's Privvy Chamber at the heart of the household continued to play a pivotal role in government in 1530s. This is shown by Cromwell's powerful influence derived from household positions such as Master of the Jewel House and his utilisation of this to influence personnel appointments within the house. Indeed Cromwell used informal, personal methods instead of bureaucratic methods e.g. ...read more.


Reformation acts removed any limit on power of statute; Parliament gained the power to deal with spiritual matters; it overrode property rights on a massive scale. Cromwell devoted far more attention to the management of parliament than any other minister, to ensure its acceptance of royal policy; he discouraged known critics & encouraged supporters of royal policy; prepared propaganda pamphlets; held the first by-elections to fill vacancies. The success of Cromwell's effort is shown by the passage of legislation through the 1530s. Through his mastery and manipulation of the workings of parliament, Cromwell was able to cause as Elton described it the "development of constitutional monarchy". Personally I believe constitutional monarchy to be hyperbole, however there is a definite Cromwell led movement away from mediaeval towards modern use of parliament. By looking at these aspects of government change in the 1530s, I would argue that, Cromwell for the most part was implementer of the King's will, yet with certain issues, Cromwell was the architect of the revolution in government during the 1530s. His dominance over parliament, the manipulation of his household positions and his magnificent extension of royal power made his rise to power unstoppable. However his own mistakes would lose Cromwell his life even at the height of his influence and remit. Elton's thesis on Cromwell's involvement and role are largely exaggerated, however the thesis in principal is accurate in that whether through execution of the King's will or his won personal pre-conceived plans, Cromwell was hugely responsible for this revolution in government. ?? ?? ?? ?? T. Clough U6TDA A2 History Mrs. Wilde ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text


Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level British History: Monarchy & Politics essays

  1. Oliver Cromwell - Hero or Villain?

    Apart from that, there were plenty more! Here we go... 1. He started to collect taxes 2. He banned unlawful assemblies 3. He closed down pubs, theatres, gambling dens, and racemeatings. 4. He started to fine people who swore, or cursed 12d. 5. He put drunkards in the stocks 6.

  2. Was Oliver Cromwell a hero or a villain?

    So there were both good and bad points relating to Cromwell and the New Model Army. During the trial of the King, the King was still popular with the people of his kingdom. However, Cromwell wanted to be popular, so that could be one reason why he signed the treaty.

  1. Was Charles I responsible for his execution?

    have more control over the two most important factors of the realm: Religion and money, but since both the King and parliament refused to compromise which caused more and more distrust between them. One of the main charges that came up against Charles at his trial was tyranny and the

  2. Why and with what degree of success did Cromwell attempt to expand English interests ...

    Antonia Frasier argues that the Cromwellian conquest was religious as well as political. Fraser states that Cromwell was passionately opposed to the Catholic Church which he saw as 'denying the primacy of the Bible in favour of papal and clerical authority, and which he blamed for suspected tyranny and persecution


    and anxious that the WSPU should not loose touch with the working class and drew up a constitution asking for greater autonomy, elected leaders and greater involvement of members in policy decisions. * Emmeline Pankhurst at the WSPU conference denounced Charlotte and Teresa as traitors, tore up the constitution and


    of this and declared war on France, mostly due to the reason of France entering discussions with Scotland about a possible alliance. Likewise with Sommerville?s (2009) account, Bingham (2011, pg 41) identifies that Henry wanted to take advantage of the chance to go to war with France because of his


    However, it is debatable as to whether or not that Henry?s illness made any fundamental change to these events, as he?d already proved himself as incapable of solving these disputes even before his mental collapse. It also led to more conflict between Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and Somerset.

  2. Assess the significance of Owain Glyndwr's revolt

    for their own interests and not for the good of the actual Welsh rebellion and Davies notes that ?Wales were used as junior expendable partners by their allies?. An example of this acting for self gain is the plan drawn up in 1405 known as the Tripartite Indenture.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work