1
Q
Which king’s weak rule helped create political instability in England by 1450?
A
Henry VI
His poor judgement, bouts of incapacity and dependence on favourites weakened royal authority.
2
Q
What term describes the rival noble groupings that competed for influence at Henry VI’s court?
A
Baronial factions
Great magnates built affinities and fought for patronage, offices and local dominance.
3
Q
What was the cause of the 1450 Cade’s Rebellion?
A
- Corrupt royal advisers angered
- Losses in France resented (e.g., Normandy)
- High taxes burdened commons
Jack Cade’s rebels marched on London and highlighted deep discontent with Lancastrian rule.
4
Q
What major French territory was lost in 1450, damaging Henry VI’s prestige?
A
Normandy
Its loss was a severe blow to English honour and undermined confidence in the regime.
5
Q
Which nobleman emerged as the main focus of opposition politics in the 1450s?
A
Richard of York
He was the senior royal duke and presented himself as a reformer against misrule.
6
Q
Why did Richard of York’s growing influence alarm some at court?
A
Threat to favourites
His rise endangered those who benefited from Henry VI’s patronage system.
7
Q
Which queen became an increasingly important political figure during the 1450s?
A
Margaret of Anjou
She became a determined defender of Lancastrian interests and her son’s inheritance.
8
Q
What was the first pitched battle of the Wars of the Roses?
A
First Battle of St Albans
Fought in 1455, it marked the outbreak of open dynastic conflict.
9
Q
In what year was the first Battle of St Albans fought?
A
1455
The Yorkists defeated royal forces and killed several leading Lancastrians.
10
Q
Which side won the first Battle of St Albans?
A
Yorkists
Their victory gave York and his allies temporary control over the king.
11
Q
Give three consequences of the first Battle of St Albans.
A
- Wars of the Roses began
- Somerset killed; king captured
- York regained political dominance (restored as Protector)
12
Q
Why was Henry VI captured by the Yorkists after St Albans significant?
A
Possession of the king brought political legitimacy as well as practical power.
13
Q
True or False:
The first Battle of St Albans ended with a clear Lancastrian victory.
A
False
It was a Yorkist success and helped launch a new phase of political struggle.
14
Q
What office did Richard of York hold when he temporarily governed in place of the king?
A
Protector of England
The role was used when Henry VI was unable to rule effectively.
15
Q
What condition of Henry VI made York’s appointment as Protector possible?
A
Mental illness
His incapacity created a vacuum at the centre of government.
16
Q
Which problem continued to disturb English society during the uneasy peace after 1455?
A
Factional rivalry
Local feuds and noble competition kept politics unstable despite the absence of major battles.
17
Q
During the uneasy peace, who worked to rebuild Lancastrian influence around the king?
A
Margaret of Anjou
She resisted Yorkist dominance and tried to protect the position of her husband and son.
18
Q
Which side forced Richard of York to flee into exile in 1459?
A
Lancastrians
The royal court regained the initiative and drove Yorkist leaders abroad.
19
Q
Which powerful earl emerged in exile as the leading Yorkist commander and strategist?
A
Warwick the Kingmaker
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, became central to Yorkist fortunes.
20
Q
At which battle in 1460 was Henry VI captured by the Yorkists?
A
Northampton
The capture of the king again handed the Yorkists political advantage.
21
Q
Why was the capture of Henry VI at Northampton so important?
A
Control of kingship
Holding the king gave the Yorkists leverage to shape government and succession.
22
Q
True or False:
Warwick became important only after Edward IV had secured the throne in 1461.
A
False
He was already a leading Yorkist figure before Edward’s accession.
23
Q
After returning from exile in 1460, what constitutional claim did Richard of York press?
A
Right to succession
He sought recognition as Henry VI’s heir rather than immediate deposition of the king.
24
Q
Which agreement recognised Richard of York as Henry VI’s heir?
A
Act of Accord
It disinherited Prince Edward and deepened Lancastrian resistance.
25
Why did the Act of Accord provoke fierce opposition from Lancastrians?
Disinherited Prince Edward
## Footnote
It threatened the queen’s son and the Lancastrian dynastic future.
26
At which battle in 1460 was Richard of York killed?
Wakefield
## Footnote
His death was a major shock, but it did not end the Yorkist cause.
27
# Fill in the blank:
The death of Richard of York at _\_\_\_\_ did not destroy the Yorkist cause.
Wakefield
## Footnote
York’s son Edward quickly emerged as the new leader.
28
Which battle in 1461 restored **Henry VI** briefly to Lancastrian control?
Second Battle of St Albans
## Footnote
Lancastrian forces recovered the king from Yorkist custody.
29
What was the immediate political **result** of the second Battle of St Albans?
Restoration of Henry VI
## Footnote
The Lancastrians briefly regained the advantage before Edward’s advance on London.
30
Which Yorkist **leader** was proclaimed king in 1461?
Edward IV
## Footnote
He was the son of Richard of York and became the new Yorkist claimant.
31
In which **year** was Edward IV proclaimed king?
1461
## Footnote
His accession marked a decisive shift from Yorkist protest to Yorkist monarchy.
32
Which battle in 1461 was the decisive Yorkist victory that secured Edward IV’s throne?
Towton
## Footnote
It was one of the bloodiest battles fought on English soil.
33
Name three consequences of the Battle of Towton.
* Edward IV firmly crowned king
* Lancastrian military power shattered
* Henry VI forced exile
## Footnote
The victory broke the main Lancastrian field army and strengthened Edward’s claim.
34
# True or False:
Towton was fought before Edward IV was proclaimed king.
False
## Footnote
Edward was proclaimed first and then confirmed his position through victory in battle.
35
What was one major **strength** of the Yorkists by 1461?
Military leadership
## Footnote
Edward and Warwick provided energy, skill and battlefield success.
36
What was one major **weakness** of the Yorkists by 1461?
Reliance on nobles
## Footnote
Their regime still depended heavily on magnate loyalty and cooperation.
37
Which **king** began his personal rule after the Yorkist triumphs of 1461?
Edward IV
## Footnote
He aimed to rule more independently and reduce overmighty subjects.
38
Whom did Edward IV marry in 1464, causing political controversy?
Elizabeth Woodville
## Footnote
The marriage alienated Warwick and promoted the rise of the Woodville family.
39
Why did Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville cause tension at court?
Her relatives gained offices and influence, angering established nobles.
40
# Fill in the blank:
Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth _\_\_\_\_ damaged relations with Warwick.
Woodville
## Footnote
Warwick had expected to control foreign policy and marriage diplomacy.
41
Which **nobleman** became increasingly hostile to Edward IV in the later 1460s?
Warwick the Kingmaker
## Footnote
His break with Edward was a turning point in Yorkist politics.
42
Which former Yorkist **ally** eventually joined Warwick against Edward IV?
George, Duke of Clarence
## Footnote
Clarence’s defection showed the fragility of dynastic loyalty.
43
Which Lancastrian **queen** remained active in attempts to restore her husband?
Margaret of Anjou
## Footnote
She continued to lead resistance and defend her son’s claim.
44
Who was the Lancastrian **heir** whose future Margaret of Anjou fought to defend?
Edward, Prince of Wales
## Footnote
He was the only son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou.
45
# True or False:
Margaret of Anjou accepted Edward IV’s rule after Towton and retired from politics.
False
## Footnote
She continued to resist and sought to revive the Lancastrian cause.
46
Which battle in 1471 ended Warwick’s attempt to overthrow **Edward IV**?
Barnet
## Footnote
Warwick was defeated and killed, removing the most dangerous rebel magnate.
47
Which major Yorkist victory in May 1471 destroyed the last serious Lancastrian army?
Tewkesbury
## Footnote
It crushed hopes of a sustained Lancastrian restoration.
48
Which Lancastrian **heir** was killed after the battle of Tewkesbury?
Edward, Prince of Wales
## Footnote
His death ended the direct Lancastrian line of succession.
49
What happened to much of the Lancastrian **nobility** after Barnet and Tewkesbury?
Destroyed
## Footnote
Deaths, executions and attainders shattered their political power.
50
# Fill in the blank:
The battles of Barnet and _\_\_\_\_ crushed the Lancastrian cause in 1471.
Tewkesbury
## Footnote
After these defeats, Lancastrian resistance collapsed.
51
By 1471, what had happened to the political power of the aristocracy as a whole?
Weakened
## Footnote
Years of baronial conflict had reduced the strength of many noble houses.
52
How did the baronial wars affect **trade** and the wider economy?
Caused disruption
## Footnote
Disorder, insecurity and interrupted patronage damaged commercial confidence in some regions.
53
# True or False:
By 1471, baronial wars had strengthened the independence of the aristocracy from the crown.
False
## Footnote
The nobility had been weakened, helping the monarchy reassert authority.
54
What broader social **effect** did magnate feuding have on local communities in the 1450s and 1460s?
Local disorder
## Footnote
Retainers and affinities could turn private rivalries into wider instability.
55
In chronological order, which came first: Wakefield or Towton?
Wakefield
## Footnote
Wakefield was fought in 1460; Towton followed in 1461.
56
In chronological order, which came first: Northampton or the second Battle of St Albans?
Northampton
## Footnote
Northampton was in 1460, while the second Battle of St Albans was in 1461.
57
# True or False:
Henry VI’s weakness made it easier for rival nobles to compete for power.
True
## Footnote
His ineffective rule encouraged factionalism and reduced respect for royal authority.
58
Which king ruled England from **1471** until his death in 1483?
Edward IV
## Footnote
His restored rule after 1471 brought a decade of relative peace and stronger monarchy.
59
What phrase is often used to describe Edward IV’s **reign** after 1471?
The Sun in Splendour
## Footnote
It reflects Edward’s badge and the apparent confidence of his restored rule.
60
What was Edward IV trying to strengthen through his consolidation of royal authority?
The Crown
## Footnote
He aimed to reduce overmighty subjects and tighten central control.
61
What broad **development** characterised Edward IV’s style of government after 1471?
New methods of government
## Footnote
He relied more on chamber finance, personal oversight and trusted servants.
62
Which royal **financial system** became more important under Edward IV’s personal rule?
Chamber finance
## Footnote
It was quicker and more flexible than older exchequer methods.
63
Name two advantages of Edward IV using the chamber system.
* Faster, more efficient revenue
* Greater personal financial control
## Footnote
It allowed the king to supervise income more directly and efficiently.
64
Which **family** attracted hostility because of its influence at Edward IV’s court?
The Woodvilles
## Footnote
Their rise angered older noble families and fed factional rivalry.
65
# True or False:
The Woodvilles were welcomed by all sections of the Yorkist political elite.
False
## Footnote
Many nobles resented their rapid promotion and access to the king.
66
What kind of **politics** continued to shape Edward IV’s court despite the return of peace?
Factional rivalries
## Footnote
Competition for office, patronage and influence remained intense.
67
What broad economic **trend** helped England during Edward IV’s decade of peace?
Revival of trade
## Footnote
Greater stability encouraged commerce, especially in cloth exports and overseas trade.
68
Which area of the **economy** was especially important to England in the later fifteenth century?
Cloth trade
## Footnote
Woollen cloth exports remained central to English prosperity.
69
# Fill in the blank:
A decade of peace under Edward IV helped improve _\_\_\_\_ and the wider economy.
trade
## Footnote
Political stability generally made commerce safer and more predictable.
70
What social **development** continued in England during Edward IV’s reign?
Social mobility
## Footnote
Some gentry and merchants rose through service, wealth and patronage.
71
Which social **group** particularly benefited from service to the Crown and local office-holding?
The gentry
## Footnote
They gained influence in administration, justice and regional politics.
72
What does the term ‘**the regions**’ refer to in late fifteenth-century English politics?
Localities outside court
## Footnote
Regional power structures often differed from politics at Westminster and court.
73
Despite greater peace, what **challenge** still affected royal authority in the regions?
Uneven local control
## Footnote
Some areas remained dependent on magnates or trusted royal agents.
74
# True or False:
Edward IV’s reign after 1471 brought complete political harmony at court and in the regions.
False
## Footnote
Peace reduced warfare, but rivalry and local tensions still persisted.
75
What event in 1483 created a **crisis** for the Yorkist succession?
Edward IV’s premature death
## Footnote
His sudden death left a young heir and opened the way for a power struggle.
76
Which **heir** succeeded Edward IV in theory on his death in 1483?
Edward V
## Footnote
He was a child, which made the succession politically fragile.
77
Why did Edward IV’s death make the Yorkist succession vulnerable?
The heir was underage
## Footnote
A minority government invited factional conflict over control of the new king.
78
# Fill in the blank:
The succession crisis of 1483 began because Edward IV died _\_\_\_\_.
prematurely
## Footnote
His unexpected death left unresolved tensions within the Yorkist elite.
79
Which **duke** carried out the coup d’état of 1483?
Richard of Gloucester
## Footnote
He seized control during the minority of Edward V and later took the throne.
80
Which **king** did Richard of Gloucester become after taking the throne?
Richard III
## Footnote
His accession remains one of the most controversial in English history.
81
What issue most damaged Richard III’s reputation after his seizure of power?
The Princes in the Tower
## Footnote
The disappearance of Edward V and his brother cast doubt on Richard’s legitimacy.
82
Who were the Princes in the Tower?
Edward V and his brother Richard
## Footnote
They were Edward IV’s sons and rivals to Richard III’s claim.
83
# True or False:
Richard III’s title was entirely secure because no one questioned his right to rule.
False
## Footnote
Many contemporaries saw him as a usurper who had displaced his nephews.
84
What term is often used for Richard III because he seized the throne from his nephew?
Usurper
## Footnote
The charge rested on the belief that Edward V had the better dynastic claim.
85
Which rival **claimant** emerged as the main focus of opposition to Richard III?
Henry Tudor
## Footnote
His claim was weak by blood, but he became the figurehead for anti-Ricardian forces.
86
What problem among the Yorkist nobility weakened Richard III’s position?
Dissensions
## Footnote
Divisions and mistrust within the Yorkist camp reduced political unity.
87
Which **rebellion** in 1483 showed early resistance to Richard III’s rule?
Buckingham’s rebellion
## Footnote
Although it failed, it revealed how insecure Richard’s position could be.
88
Which **nobleman** led the major rebellion against Richard III in 1483?
Buckingham
## Footnote
His revolt linked discontented Yorkists with support for Henry Tudor.
89
Name three causes of the Buckingham Rebellion 1483.
* Discontent with Richard’s usurpation
* Rumours of princes’ murder
* Buckingham seeking greater power
90
What was one **strength** of Richard III’s position in 1484?
He controlled the Crown
## Footnote
Possession of kingship gave him access to patronage, justice and government.
91
What was one major **weakness** in Richard III’s position by 1484?
Uncertain legitimacy
## Footnote
Suspicion over usurpation and the princes undermined loyalty.
92
Which personal **loss** in 1485 further weakened Richard III’s political standing?
Death of his wife
## Footnote
Anne Neville’s death damaged dynastic stability and fuelled speculation.
93
Which succession **problem** worsened Richard III’s position after the death of his son?
No secure heir
## Footnote
The lack of a clear successor created further uncertainty about the future.
94
# True or False:
By 1484 Richard III had solved the succession problem completely.
False
## Footnote
The deaths of his wife and heir left the dynasty exposed.
95
At which **battle** was Richard III defeated and killed?
Bosworth
## Footnote
The battle in 1485 ended Yorkist rule and transformed English politics.
96
In what **year** was the Battle of Bosworth fought?
1485
## Footnote
It marked the decisive victory of Henry Tudor over Richard III.
97
Which new **king** was proclaimed after Bosworth?
Henry VII
## Footnote
His victory founded the Tudor dynasty.
98
Which **dynasty** began in England after Bosworth?
Tudor dynasty
## Footnote
Henry VII presented his rule as the beginning of a new political order.
99
# Fill in the blank:
After Bosworth, Henry VII strengthened his position by marrying Elizabeth of _\_\_\_\_.
York
## Footnote
The marriage symbolically united Lancastrian and Yorkist claims.
100
Why was Henry VII’s marriage to Elizabeth of York politically important?
It united rival claims
## Footnote
The match helped reconcile Yorkist and Lancastrian supporters.
101
Which **rising** in 1486 showed that Yorkist resistance to Henry VII had not ended?
Lovell revolt
## Footnote
Though unsuccessful, it was an early sign of continuing dynastic unrest.
102
Which **pretender** was defeated by Henry VII at the Battle of Stoke in 1487?
Lambert Simnel
## Footnote
Simnel had been presented as a Yorkist claimant, backed by foreign and noble support.
103
At which **battle** did Henry VII defeat Lambert Simnel’s supporters?
Stoke
## Footnote
Often seen as the last major battle of the Wars of the Roses.
104
# True or False:
The Battle of Stoke was a Yorkist victory that restored the House of York.
False
## Footnote
Henry VII won and crushed the Simnel rising.
105
Which regional tax **revolt** in 1489 challenged Henry VII’s authority in the north?
Yorkshire Uprising
## Footnote
It reflected resentment at taxation and limits of central control in the regions.
106
Which foreign Yorkist **supporter** played a key role in sustaining opposition to Henry VII?
Margaret of Burgundy
## Footnote
She was Edward IV’s sister and a determined backer of Yorkist pretenders.
107
Which imprisoned **noble** remained a dangerous symbol for Yorkist opposition under Henry VII?
Earl of Warwick
## Footnote
His Plantagenet blood made him valuable to plotters and pretenders.
108
Which later **pretender** claimed to be Richard, Duke of York?
Perkin Warbeck
## Footnote
He attracted significant foreign backing and prolonged the Yorkist challenge.
109
# Fill in the blank:
Perkin _\_\_\_\_ claimed to be one of the princes and became a major threat to Henry VII.
Warbeck
## Footnote
His challenge lasted for years because it gained support at home and abroad.
110
Which **country** gave notable backing to Perkin Warbeck during his challenge to Henry VII?
Scotland
## Footnote
James IV supported Warbeck as a means of pressuring England.
111
Which western **rising** became linked with Perkin Warbeck in 1497?
Cornish Rebellion
## Footnote
Warbeck tried to exploit unrest in the south-west, but the effort failed.
112
What ended the Yorkist **challenge** by 1499?
Execution of Warbeck and Warwick
## Footnote
Their deaths removed the most important remaining symbols of Yorkist resistance.
113
# True or False:
By 1499 Henry VII still faced a strong and organised Yorkist dynastic movement.
False
## Footnote
The executions of Warbeck and Warwick effectively ended the serious challenge.
114
How had the Wars of the Roses affected central authority by 1499?
It had strengthened
## Footnote
The monarchy emerged more determined to control nobles and regions.
115
What long-term **effect** did the wars have on trade and the economy by 1499?
Mixed recovery
## Footnote
Conflict had caused disruption, but greater stability under Henry VII encouraged recovery.
116
What was one effect of the wars on relations between central government and the regions?
Greater royal oversight
## Footnote
The Crown worked harder to control local power and reduce disorder.
117
# Fill in the blank:
By 1499 the Crown had increased its authority over the _\_\_\_\_ as well as central government.
regions
## Footnote
Henry VII’s rule aimed to tighten control beyond the royal court.
118
# True or False:
The Wars of the Roses left the monarchy weaker and less interested in controlling the nobility.
False
## Footnote
Both Edward IV and Henry VII sought tighter royal authority over magnates.
A-Level History (Edexcel)
flashcards
Decks in class (30)
# Cards
-
The Crusades and the Near East102
-
Spain: Monarchy and Empire94
-
Tudor England: Authority and Religion92
-
Stuart Britain: Conflict and Revolution74
-
Russia: Absolutism and Reform73
-
Industrial Britain: Change and Reform111
-
Modern Britain: Transformation and Society113
-
Russia: Revolution and the Soviet State119
-
The British Empire: Expansion and Decline108
-
The USA: Emergence of a Superpower116
-
Germany: Unification to Reunification110
-
Medieval England: Authority and Conflict136
-
Late Medieval England: Dynastic Conflict118
-
The European Reformation153
-
The English Reformation318
-
The English Civil War147
-
France under Louis XIV145
-
The American Revolution and Early USA129
-
The French Revolution and Napoleon161
-
The American Civil War and Reconstruction137
-
International Relations and the Origins of War100
-
Fascist Italy140
-
Britain: War and Welfare157
-
Russia: Revolution and Stalinism183
-
Germany: Democracy and Nazism153
-
China: Revolution and Reform150
-
The USA: Society and Change135
-
The Cold War147
-
Modern Britain since 1950150
-
The Collapse of Communism156
