Instability and consolidation: 'the Mid-Tudor Crisis', 1547–1563 (A-level only) common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Confusing the roles of Somerset and Northumberland

  Students often mix up the actions and policies of Somerset and Northumberland, leading to inaccurate conclusions about their impact on the Mid-Tudor Crisis.

  Fix itClearly distinguish between Somerset's initial reforms and Northumberland's more conservative approach, especially regarding foreign policy and religious changes.

• Overgeneralizing causes of rebellion

  Students often attribute the causes of rebellions solely to religious factors without considering economic and social issues.

  Fix itEnsure to analyze multiple factors, including economic grievances and social tensions, when discussing the causes of rebellions.

• Overgeneralizing the Mid-Tudor Crisis

  Students often describe the Mid-Tudor Crisis as solely a period of instability without acknowledging the attempts at consolidation.

  Fix itIt's important to recognize both the challenges and the efforts made by Mary I and her ministers to stabilize the monarchy.

• Confusing the roles of Mary I and Elizabeth I

  Students often conflate the policies and impacts of Mary I with those of Elizabeth I.

  Fix itFocus on the distinct religious policies and social contexts of each queen, particularly Mary’s Catholic restoration versus Elizabeth’s Protestant settlement.

• Overgeneralizing Elizabeth I's policies

  Students often describe Elizabeth I's policies as purely Protestant without acknowledging the compromises made to appease Catholics.

  Fix itIt's important to recognize the nuances of the Elizabethan Settlement and how it aimed to unify a divided nation.

• Overgeneralizing economic impacts

  Students often state that economic issues affected everyone equally.

  Fix itIt's important to specify how different social classes were affected differently by economic developments, particularly the impact on the poor versus the wealthy.