Sample Answer for Causes of rebellion in the years 1549 to 1569

'Social and economic grievances, rather than religious discontent, were the main causes of rebellion in the years 1549 to 1569.' [25 Marks]

Rebellions under Edward VI were mostly due to social and economic grievances. The Western Rebellion in 1549 was triggered by the sheep tax enacted by Edward in the same year. Rebels were unhappy with the cost of having to keep sheep. However, the rebellion also had religious causes, with some rebels opposing the Book of Common Prayer, which had also been introduced in 1549. Those who rebelled were discontent with the Protestantism included in the new prayer book. 1549 also saw Kett's rebellion. This was caused by grievances over the enclosure. Despite Somerset's enclosure commission in 1548, little was done about enclosure which led to rebellion. Kett's also had political causes with some rebels angry at the local government for negligence. Therefore, rebellions under Edward VI were mostly caused by social and economic grievances, rather than religious ones.

Mary I's reign saw Wyatt's Rebellion in 1554. This was motivated by a number of reasons, religion and socio-economic discontent included. The rebellion was in opposition to the 'Spanish Marriage' between Mary and Philp II of Spain. The main motivator was xenophobia but the rebellion included Lady Jane Grey's father and ultimately led to Lady Jane Grey's execution inferring there was some Protestant discontent. Rebels were also discontent with the declining cloth trade in the area. So, the Wyatt's Rebellion under Mary I had both religious and socio-economic causes, but neither were the main factor.

However, the Northern Rebellion in 1569 under Elizabeth I had greater religious causes than social and economic ones. The Northern Rebellion was led by Northumberland and Westmorland due to political grievances against Elizabeth I. But the rebels that followed them were discontent about her religious reform. Shown by the fact the rebels held an illegal mass in Durham Cathedral. Social and economic grievances were not a major part of the Northern Rebellion. Although political grievance was the main cause, religion was a more significant cause than socio-economic grievance.

To conclude, the main causes of rebellion were social and economic grievances, especially in the Western and Kett's rebellions in 1549. Social and Economic grievance also was mildly involved in Wyatt's Rebellion. However religion was still a significant cause, influencing the Western Rebellion, Wyatt's Rebellion and most significantly, the Northern Rebellion. Also, political causes were influential in Wyatt's and the Northern Rebellions. Overall, social and economic grievance was a greater cause of rebellion in the period 1549-1569, religious discontent was more of a contributor rather than a triggering cause.