Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-3-uprisings-against-edward-vi [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel.md) › Uprisings Against Edward VI # Uprisings Against Edward VI History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603, topic 3.3.3 ## The Western Rebellion 1549 A combination of religious and socioeconomic factors led to the Western Rebellion. In conclusion, Somerset's government handled the rebellion badly. ### Causes of rebellion ![Causes of rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/815c4c02-fb6a-4a63-bee6-cb458e01ba69/Uprising-Fist-Power-Rebellion-Rebel-Resistance-.jpg) - A combination of reasons triggered the rebellion. - Resentment of religion reform - the New Common Prayer Book of 1549 sparked the rebellion. - Hostility to enclosure - The enclosure commission of 1548 had dashed people’s high hopes. - Increasing rents, rising prices and falling wages. - The local gentry could not deal with the situation. ### Course of rebellion ![Course of rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/7021a221-988b-4f54-b352-10bd20f66bd9/cornwall-28518_1280.png) - The rebellion began on Sunday 10 June in Cornwall and later spread to Devon. - On 29 June, Lord Russell was sent to find a peaceful settlement. - From 2 July to 6 July, the rebels besieged Exeter. - On 8 July, Russell's last attempt to find a settlement failed. - On 12 July, Lord Grey was sent to help Russell but was diverted to unrest in Oxford. - On 28 July, Russell began defeating groups of rebels in Devon. - On 17 August, the rebels were defeated. ### Consequences of rebellion ![Consequences of rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/38942310-1eeb-48e9-9b22-a31c21c7c3f5/cornwall-map-england-.jpg) - The rebellion was put down. - Martial law (military government) was used to deal with the rebels. This indicates how dangerous the situation was. - Somerset's position in government was seriously weakened. ### Historical interpretation ![Historical interpretation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/4a4a7e9a-70e2-4906-9a2d-73fae36145bb/shutterstock_246112852.jpg) - Some historians call this rebellion the 'Prayer Book Rebellion'. - Historians have noted that most of the rebel articles focussed on religious grievances. - But this may reflect the disproportionate influence of the clergy who played a leading role in the rebellion rather than accurately representing the grievances of all the rebels. - Ferriby, Anderson and Imperato's view: "Many of the riots were ill-focused and reflected a sense of desperation among the poorest classes". ## Kett's Rebellion 1549 Kett's Rebellion in East Anglia was the second rebellion Somerset's government faced. This strongly contributed to Somerset's downfall. ### Causes of rebellion ![Causes of rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/b2d0c7be-9ff7-4842-bcae-0177af42e04b/rebellion-fists-.jpg) - Enclosure and bad government were higher priorities than religion. - Local government was a key issue. The rebels attacked the gentry and Justices of the Peace (JPs), accusing them of corruption and mismanaging government policy. - The New Common Prayer Book did not spark the rebellion. Kett's rebels wanted more religious reform, such as improving the quality of the clergy. ### Course of rebellion ![Course of rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/4fee8044-0b44-4e0c-a217-75efa6847598/norwich-.jpg) - On 10 July, Kett led a march of yeomen and farmers to Norwich. - On 21 July, full pardon was offered to the rebels with promises to deal with corruption. - On 22 July, the rebels took Norwich. They set up a camp on Mousehold Heath. - Somerset wrote letters to the rebels to deal with their grievances. - On 30 July, the Marquis of Northampton arrived with a small army and retook Norwich. Negotiations with Kett failed. - On 23 August, the Earl of Warwick arrived with 12,000 men. - On 27 August, Kett's Rebellion was put down. 3,000 rebels were killed. ### Consequences of rebellion ![Consequences of rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/dc02a62d-a5ef-4ae3-90e2-c59864c52c2f/Hangman-Noose.jpg) - Kett was hanged in November. - Most of the rebels were dealt with more leniently. - Somerset tried to be popular and wanted to cooperate with the rebels. This made him seem weak to his rivals at court. ## Historical Interpretations Studies of rebellions have become popular in recent years. Nowadays, historians consider rebellions a political tool that commoners used to exert pressure on the government. ### Interpretations of rebellions ![Interpretations of rebellions](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/1c2ac8a0-7945-42fd-8cf8-ffe2cd5c6f53/Rebellion-Uprising-Signs.jpg) - Previously, historians used to not think commoners could be involved in politics. - This was changed by social historians who studied ordinary people. - Now, rebellions are seen as sophisticated and political. ### What was the purpose of rebellion? ![What was the purpose of rebellion?](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/042f6872-0d7d-41e7-83f4-e42aae3ed63d/shutterstock_73792807.jpg) - Historians such as Bush argue that rebellion was used as a form of negotiation in the Tudor period. This was because most commoners did not have a formal way to express their grievances. - Kett's and the Western rebellion can be seen as commoners calling for the government to restore harmony. They were not trying to overthrow the government. ## Test yourself on Uprisings Against Edward VI - Key Events During the Western Rebellion 1549 - What have some historians called the Western Rebellion? - Did the New Common Prayer Book spark Kett's Rebellion? - Key Events in Kett's Rebellion - Who first studied ordinary people in history? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/c32e8aa5-abeb-44ce-b7ad-e2162a2d0658/section/e000ff8c-c13c-4440-a021-453f5f75bd01/session) - Previous topic: [3.3.2 Uprisings Against Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-2-uprisings-against-henry-viii.md) - Next topic: [3.3.4 Uprisings Against Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-4-uprisings-against-elizabeth-i.md) ## History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603 contents ### 1 Monarch & Government - 1.1 Tudor Monarchs - [1.1.1 Henry VII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-1-henry-vii.md) - [1.1.2 Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-2-henry-viii.md) - [1.1.3 Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-3-edward-vi.md) - [1.1.4 Mary I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-4-mary-i.md) - [1.1.5 Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-5-elizabeth-i.md) - [1.1.6 Succession Disputes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-6-succession-disputes.md) - 1.2 Changing Role of Parliament - [1.2.1 Parliament & Henry VII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-1-parliament-and-henry-vii.md) - [1.2.2 Parliament & Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-2-parliament-and-henry-viii.md) - [1.2.3 Parliament After the Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-3-parliament-after-the-reformation.md) - 1.3 Principal Servants to the Crown - [1.3.1 Principal Servants to the Crown](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-3-1-principal-servants-to-the-crown.md) ### 2 Religious Changes - 2.1 Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change - [2.1.1 The Henrician Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-1-the-henrician-reformation.md) - [2.1.2 Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-2-impact-of-religious-change-under-henry-viii.md) - [2.1.3 Religious Change Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-3-religious-change-under-edward-vi.md) - [2.1.4 Religious Change Under Mary I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-4-religious-change-under-mary-i.md) - [2.1.5 Elizabethan Settlement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-5-elizabethan-settlement.md) - 2.2 Catholicism & Survival - [2.2.1 Popular Attitudes to Catholicism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-1-popular-attitudes-to-catholicism.md) - [2.2.2 Catholicism Under Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-2-catholicism-under-henry-viii.md) - [2.2.3 Catholicism Under Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-3-catholicism-under-elizabeth-i.md) - [2.2.4 Catholic Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-4-catholic-nobility.md) - 2.3 Protestantism & Puritanism - [2.3.1 Protestant Influences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-1-protestant-influences.md) - [2.3.2 Protestantism Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-2-protestantism-under-edward-vi.md) - [2.3.3 Protestantism Under Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-3-protestantism-under-elizabeth-i.md) ### 3 State Control & Popular Resistance - 3.1 Tudor Control of the Country - [3.1.1 Councils](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-1-councils.md) - [3.1.2 Role of Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-2-role-of-nobility.md) - [3.1.3 Justices of the Peace](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-3-justices-of-the-peace.md) - [3.1.4 Lord Lieutenant](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-4-lord-lieutenant.md) - 3.2 The State & the Poor - [3.2.1 Reasons for Growth of Poverty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-1-reasons-for-growth-of-poverty.md) - [3.2.2 Punishments for Paupers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-2-punishments-for-paupers.md) - [3.2.3 Role of Charities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-3-role-of-charities.md) - 3.3 Resistance to Tudor Rule - [3.3.1 Resistance to Tax & Subsidies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-1-resistance-to-tax-and-subsidies.md) - [3.3.2 Uprisings Against Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-2-uprisings-against-henry-viii.md) - [3.3.3 Uprisings Against Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-3-uprisings-against-edward-vi.md) - [3.3.4 Uprisings Against Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-4-uprisings-against-elizabeth-i.md) - [3.3.5 Decline of Popular Resistance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-5-decline-of-popular-resistance.md) ### 4 Economic, Social & Cultural Change - 4.1 Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade - [4.1.1 Wool & Cloth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-1-1-wool-and-cloth.md) - [4.1.2 Exploration & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-1-2-exploration-and-trade.md) - 4.2 Changing Structure of Society - [4.2.1 Population](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-1-population.md) - [4.2.2 Dissolution of Monasteries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-2-dissolution-of-monasteries.md) - [4.2.3 Enclosure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-3-enclosure.md) - 4.3 Cultural Change - [4.3.1 Education & Literature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-1-education-and-literature.md) - [4.3.2 Impact of Religious Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-2-impact-of-religious-change.md) - [4.3.3 Patronage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-3-patronage.md) - [4.3.4 The Arts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-4-the-arts.md) - [4.3.5 Cult of Gloriana](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-5-cult-of-gloriana.md) ### 5 Historical Interpretations - 5.1 Significance of Threats to National Security - [5.1.1 Spain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-1-spain.md) - [5.1.2 The Spanish Armada](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-2-the-spanish-armada.md) - [5.1.3 Ireland](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-3-ireland.md) - 5.2 Court Politics - [5.2.1 Court Factions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-2-1-court-factions.md) - [5.2.2 Essex's Rebellion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-2-2-essexs-rebellion.md) - 5.3 Elizabeth & Parliament - [5.3.1 Conflict with Parliament](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-3-1-conflict-with-parliament.md) - 5.4 Social Distress in the 1590s - [5.4.1 Social Distress in the 1590s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-4-1-social-distress-in-the-1590s.md)