Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
The Amicable Grant (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
How Important was the Amicable Grant to Tudor England? - Summary
The Amicable Grant was significant in Tudor England as it sparked widespread opposition and unrest among the common people. The Amicable Grant was a a tax which was raised without the consent of parliament. It placed more financial pressure on the already struggling population. The Amicable Grant led to riots and protests across England. People refused to pay the tax. These actions openly defied the king's authority. The resistance to the Amicable Grant revealed the limitations of royal power. The masses could oppose the king if his actions were unfair. It also demonstrated the importance and power of parliament. It was a vital aspect of England's government that needed to be respected by the king. |
Reasons for the Amicable Grant
The Amicable Grant was intended to help Henry raise enough money to invade France in 1525
Why did Henry want to invade France in 1525?
What was the Amicable Grant?
The Amicable Grant taxed people at the rate of:
A third of the value of priests' property
A sixth of the value of people's property
Why was the Amicable Grant Controversial?
Reason for controversy | Explanation of controversy |
|---|---|
The tax was not approved by Parliament | All taxes before the Amicable Grant had Parliament's approval. The King used the Royal Decree to collect the Amicable Grant |
People had ten weeks to pay the tax | Many people could not raise this money in such a short time. People refused to pay the tax or rebelled against the king |
Exam Tip
To understand the controversy of the Amicable Grant, you need a good understanding of the government in Tudor England. This will improve your explanations in the 'Explain Why' questions.
Consequences of the Amicable Grant
Short-term consequences | Long-term consequences |
|---|---|
Many people refused to pay the tax | Wolsey took responsibility for the failure of the Amicable Grant. This damaged his reputation |
In Lavenham, Suffolk, 10,000 men gathered in the town. They expressed their loyalty to the king but also their anger at the tax. The Duke of Norfolk and Duke of Suffolk arrived. The rebels surrendered. The king pardoned them | Wolsey could raise no more taxes. Henry began to doubt Wolsey's abilities as Lord Chancellor |
Henry had to abandon the tax and make peace with France | Wolsey's enemies in the Royal Court became more powerful |
The incident showed the limits of Henry's power. He had to have the consent of parliament to raise taxes |
Exam Tip
An exam question could ask you to explain why the Amicable Grant failed. The key reasons why the policy failed were:
People could not afford the Amicable Grant
Henry did not have parliament's approval for the tax
The resistance of the people to the tax
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 the Amicable Grant to fail. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor caused Henry to repeal the tax
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor was for the failure of the Amicable Grant
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