The History of England: From the Tudors to the First Arrivals in America

HENRY VIII (1491-1547)

England from 1509. 2nd Tudor monarch.

Henry VIII had 6 marriages, including Catherine of Aragon (annulled) and Anne Boleyn. As England was a Catholic country, the Pope, as head of the Church, would not allow divorce, as Catholic marriage is for life. Henry VIII made Church officials swear that he was the leader, allowing him to arrange his own divorce. This process, called the Reformation, was confirmed by the Act of Supremacy (1534), which declared Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He declared any monks who spoke against him traitors and had them executed, leading to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, Thomas More was beheaded for refusing to support Henry VIII.

ELIZABETH I (1533-1603)

Last monarch of the House of Tudor. A glorious queen of England.

Elizabeth I's father had her mother executed when she was only 3 years old, and she was raised by ladies-in-waiting.

CHURCH LAWS

As an Anglican, Elizabeth I tried not to oppress Catholics as her predecessors had. The new Act of Supremacy became law on 8 May 1559.

THE REPUBLIC: OLIVER CROMWELL

The period known as the Commonwealth of England was a time when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland, were ruled as a republic following the end of the 2nd Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I. The leaders were Oliver Cromwell and Richard Cromwell. In 1653, the period known as the Protectorate occurred.

Oliver Cromwell was an English military leader and Member of Parliament. He is known for being Lord Protector and helping to make England a republic.

THE RESTORATION

Charles I was executed in January 1649. The Parliament of Scotland proclaimed Charles II king in 1649, and England entered the period known as the English Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell, who became the virtual dictator of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Charles II spent the next nine years in exile. A political crisis that followed the death of Cromwell in 1658 resulted in the restoration of the monarchy, and Charles II was invited to return to Britain. In May 1660, he was received in London to public acclaim.

FIRST ARRIVALS

Europeans who crossed the Atlantic found a site and began to build with the intention of staying, not exploring.

VIRGINIA COMPANY

The Virginia Company was a commercial trading company chartered by King James I of England in 1606. Its aim was to establish a permanent colony in America that would make a profit for the company. It had 2 divisions:

• The Plymouth Company
• The London Company, which would establish Jamestown in Virginia.

Planters were required to work for the Company. In exchange, they were provided with housing, clothing, and food. John Rolfe, a settler, introduced Caribbean tobacco into the colony. Tobacco became Virginia’s chief export and launched an economic boom for the colony. The Virginia Company was dissolved in 1624.