Topics in European History: Henry VIII

Assignments

The Act of Supremacy
due Monday 16 February 2004

Assignment: To analyze the Act of Supremacy - both Henry's reasons for wanting it and the consequences it would bring.

Directions: Write answers to the following questions, then synthesize your answers into a smoothly flowing paper of approx. 1250 words/5 pages (typed, double-spaced, in 12 pt. font) with footnotes/endnotes for referencing of primary and secondary material (see attached sheet). There is no need to do extra research, all the documents you will need to use are on reserve in the library. Remember - do not use the first person, do not use contractions, and if you have questions at any stage of this assignment - ASK!

Questions:

1. What does the Act of Supremacy actually say? Dissect it/deconstruct it. What powers is it giving to the king? What justification is offered for doing so? You do not need to "translate" it word for word, but do cover all the main topics it does.
   
2. Looking at the secondary material and documents from M. D. Palmer's book, which reason do you think provided Henry with the best claim to royal supremacy? Why?
   
3. Consider everything you have read on the Act of Supremacy, and pay particular attention to the comments from Hooker…what consequences, positive or negative, long- or short-term, do you think there will be? Use only the assigned readings (for this assignment) to support your answer and reference them carefully.
   

The Pilgrimage of Grace & the Dissolution of the Monasteries
due Monday 23 February 2004

Assignment: To analyze the effects of England's break with Rome on the country - both in terms of people and property.

Directions: As with your first assignment, you will need to write answers to the questions provided. Then, for each topic (the Pilgrimage & the Dissolution), you need to synthesize your answers into a smoothly flowing paper of approx. 1250 words/5 pages (typed, double-spaced, in 12 pt. font) with footnotes/endnotes for referencing of primary and secondary material (see attached sheet). The documents you will need to use are on reserve in the library. You will also need to access one of the following websites: Rievaulx Abbey, York, Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset, or Tintern Abbey, Wales. Or a search for the words "abbey ruins" will also provide you with many others to choose from. Remember - do not use the first person, do not use contractions, and if you have questions at any stage of this assignment - ASK!

Questions on the Pilgrimage of Grace:

1. How reliable are the documents provided as sources of information for the causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace? Consider who wrote them and why…
   
2. What were the goals of the Pilgrims?
   
3. Do you think that Henry VIII (or his throne) was ever in danger from the rebellion?
   Why or why not?
   

Questions on the Dissolution of the Monasteries:

1. In reading the selections of documents you have been given, do you think the Dissolution of the Monasteries was motivated purely by Henry VIII's greed, or do you think there actually was some corruption in the religious houses?
   
2. Many historians refer to the Dissolution of the Monasteries as "an act of state vandalism." Do you think they are justified in this description?
   
3. Look through the photos of one of the dissolved abbeys at the sites provided…why do you think these ruins still remain? What does this tell you about the English view of this event in their history? Of Henry VIII??
   

Footnotes or Endnotes
You may use either footnotes or endnotes in writing your completed paper, whichever you prefer. For all referencing, however, you must adhere to standard guidelines…see the handout provided for proper referencing form, and ask if you have any questions.

Plagiarism: According to The Compass, "Plagiarism is the act of taking the work of another and presenting it as one's own, without acknowledgement of the original source. ...It is always the responsibility of the student to provide precise sources for all ideas, information, or data he or she has borrowed or adapted. Simply listing sources in a bibliography is not sufficient. Students who use information from the World Wide Web are expected to follow these same guidelines for the citation of sources."