Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Opposition from Thomas More (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Important was Thomas More's Opposition to Henry VIII? - Timeline & Summary
Thomas More's opposition to Henry VIII was significant in several ways. Thomas was a well-known figure in European society and a close adviser to the king. More resigned from his government role over Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. He could not support Henry's break with the Catholic Church. This sent a powerful message that even some people in Henry's government did not agree with his actions.
More's opposition to Henry VIII had political consequences. His refusal to support the king's actions strained their once-close relationship. More's beliefs led to his downfall and execution. More's execution highlighted the risks of opposing the king's authority.
Who was Thomas More?
Sir Thomas More was a significant person in Tudor society
Many people regarded More as one of Europe’s great intellects
More was a published author
His most famous book was Utopia which described a perfect society
He was a devout Catholic
He called Martin Luther and Protestants criminals
He burnt Protestant books
As Lord Chancellor (1529-1532), More accused and interrogated suspected Protestants for the crime of heresy
In this period, six Protestants were burnt at the stake for their beliefs
How did Thomas More oppose Henry's changes to the Church?
More never openly opposed Henry's changes to the Church
He showed his disagreement with Henry's actions by:
Resigning from the role of Chancellor in 1532
More disappeared from public life completely after this
Refusing to take the Oath of Succession in 1534
When More was arrested, he refused to explain the reason why he did not take the oath
More believed that, by not giving a reason, the government could not charge him with treason
Henry kept More in the Tower of London for a year
Cromwell frequently visited More to persuade him to take to oath
More's trial was on the 1st July 1535
The trial argued how More had criticised Henry and his split from Rome
This evidence was likely fake
The court found him guilty of treason
More was executed on 6th July 1535
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Try to compare More's opposition to that of Elizabeth Barton and John Fisher. In your revision, you could make fact files about each person or make a similarities/differences table about their opposition and Henry's reaction to them. This will help you in your exam if you are asked to make judgements about the importance of their opposition.
The Significance of Thomas More’s Opposition
Henry's decision to execute More shocked Europe
Killing one of Europe's greatest Catholic intellects angered political leaders like Charles V (Charles I of Spain)
The threat of a Catholic crusade against England seemed more likely
The Pope was incredibly angry
England became more divided from Rome
The Pope threatened to excommunicate Henry
More's execution also impacted England
English Catholics saw More as a martyr for their religion
This gave them more motivation to oppose the English Reformation
His death created an atmosphere of fear and repression in England
Henry had killed one of his closest advisers
People were afraid of what could happen to them if they spoke out against the king
Worked Example
'Thomas More was the most significant opponent to the Reformation in England.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer
16 marks
Partial answer:
Thomas More was a significant opponent of the Reformation in England because of his position in Henry's government. More held the position of Lord Chancellor from 1529 to 1532 until he resigned from the position. Lord Chancellor was one of the king's closest advisers. This made More's opposition more damaging because he influenced the Royal Court. This could have allowed More to win support from other advisers to turn against Henry's decision. This would mean that Henry would not have the support of his government. Therefore, More's opposition had the potential to cause significant damage to Henry's government and the support for the English Reformation.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The worked example above is the beginning of a 16-mark answer. This question would require you to write another two paragraphs, showing other opponents to the Reformation in England. Your paragraphs could follow PEEL:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
E - Explain why this evidence shows opposition to the English Reformation. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this person did or had the potential to damage Henry's implementation of the Reformation
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this opponent was to the English Reformation
Concluding your thoughts with a reflection on key concepts. You should consider short- and long-term consequences, importance and impact. For example, More was the most well-known opponent of the Reformation. He was also a part of Henry's government. Therefore, you could state that this made More the most significant opponent.
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