Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
How Did Cromwell Rise to Power? (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Similar was Thomas Cromwell to Cardinal Wolsey? - Timeline & Summary
A key similarity between Cromwell and Wolsey was their backgrounds. Neither man was born into nobility. Wolsey and Cromwell were the sons of tradespeople. This made their achievements more impressive in the context of Tudor England. It showed that it was their skills and intelligence that allowed them to rise through the Tudor hierarchy.
There were significant differences between Wolsey and Cromwell. Wolsey rose to power through his position in the Catholic Church. Cromwell gained favour with Henry VIII through his legal expertise. Cromwell's approach to government was more pragmatic than Wolsey's. Cromwell had more respect for his friends and his enemies than Wolsey had.
Who was Cromwell?
Thomas Cromwell became Henry VIII’s chief minister in 1534
Cromwell had an unlikely rise to power
He was not born into nobility
It was very difficult in Tudor times to climb the social hierarchy
Cromwell rose to power by:
Training to become a lawyer
Being a member of Wolsey's council in 1519
Becoming the MP for Taunton
Entering the Privy Council in 1531
Expressing his religious beliefs
From 1517, some parts of Europe began to question Catholicism
Cromwell's travels across Europe had made him increasingly Protestant
He was more supportive of Henry's annulment and angered by the Pope's power to prevent it
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Some students struggle to understand the difference between a Protestant and a Catholic. This difference is important to understand the next sections of this course. Both Protestants and Catholics are Christians. However, they have key differences in their beliefs and practices.
Catholics believe in the authority of the Pope. Protestants do not believe in this
Catholics have elaborate churches. Protestants think that these churches distract people from worshipping God
Catholics pray to saints and have icons of them in their churches. Protestants believe that this is wrong
In this period, all Catholic Bibles and services were in Latin. Protestants believed that the Bible and church services should be in the language of the congregation
Catholics believe that in Communion, the bread and wine “become” the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Protestants consider the bread and wine as symbols
Cromwell's Personality
Many aspects of Cromwell's personality contributed to his climb to power:
Reasons for Cromwell's Rise to Power
Cromwell's actions | How did this help Cromwell rise to power? |
|---|---|
Cromwell defended Wolsey in parliament and in front of Henry VIII | Henry was impressed with Cromwell's loyalty. Henry believed that Cromwell would be as loyal to him if he promoted him |
Cromwell was very charming and witty in the Royal Court | Cromwell's personality won him supporters in court and captured Henry's attention |
Cromwell's actions gained him a reputation for being ruthless | Henry could rely on Cromwell to undertake controversial and immoral acts. These actions limited the number of people willing to challenge Cromwell's position |
Cromwell was very efficient in completing the king's tasks | Henry involved himself more in day-to-day government after 1530. He needed someone who acted quickly upon his instructions. Cromwell was ideal in this role |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question based on this section could ask you to explain why Cromwell became Henry's most important minister by 1534. The key reasons for Cromwell's rise in power were:
Cromwell’s skills and qualities as an advisor
His Protestant views
His loyalty to Henry
This is a 12-mark question. Ensure you write three paragraphs that:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
E - Explain why this evidence caused Cromwell's rise to power. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor caused Henry to promote Cromwell by 1534
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor is in causing the rise of Cromwell
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