The Act of Union 1536

1. The Act of Union 1536

2. The Act of Union 1536 • In 1282 Llywellyn the Last was killed and Edward I of England ruled Wales. Two years later the Statue of Rhuddlan was passed which set out how Wales was to be governed. The king was to rule over 6 counties known as the Principality of Wales, (Crown lands on map)

3. The King, however, did not rule the whole of Wales. The rest of the country was a patchwork of Lordships – areas ruled by independent Marcher Lords. They felt that they were Kings of their own lands. They held their own courts, raised taxes, appointed officials and often had their own armies. The people who lived in these areas did not obey the king’s laws. These lands were called the Marches.

4. By 1530 when Henry VIII was King he and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell were concerned with the way that Marcher Lords ruled their land and the lawlessness of Wales. • Between 1536 and 1543 laws were passed that became known as the Acts of union. In the words of the Act of Parliament, Wales ‘was to be incorporated, united and annexed to and with the realm of England’

5. Wales before the Act of Union Wales after the Act of Union How did the Act of Union change the map of Wales? Wales was divided into counties and the Marcher Lords lost their land Image used with the kind permission of Oakdalevillage.co.uk

6. The web below shows some of the causes of the Act of Union. Some of these causes are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some causes are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these causes are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic cause. Click on each box to see if you are right Wales was lawless and wild The King was worried that Catholic monarchs in France and Spain might try to invade England though Wales. The King thought that the Welsh would continue to obey the Pope Causes of the Act of Union The King was worried about the power of the Marcher Lords The Welsh had different laws about inheriting land The King wanted Wales to be the same as England

7. Political & Social • The King wanted Wales to be the same as England • “His majesty (Henry VIII) has a great love a favour towards his subjects in Wales. He hath ordered that Wales shall be incorporated with his Realm of England, the people shall have and enjoy all the freedoms, liberties, rights, privileges and laws as the King’s subjects in England.” • Act of Union 1536 • According to this source what do the Welsh people gain from the Act of Union? • Do you think that Henry had the Welsh people in mind when he passed the Act?

8. Religious The King thought that the Welsh would continue to obey the Pope • Henry was worried that the Welsh people would continue to obey the Pope after his ‘Break with Rome’. If he was able to control Wales then there would be less chance of this happening.

9. Religious and Political • The King was worried about the power of the Marcher Lords. • Henry had always been fearful about the power of the Marcher Lords but this grew after his ‘Break with Rome’. Henry was worried that they would remain loyal to the Pope and rebel against him. • How would the Act of Union solve this problem for Henry?

10. Political • Wales was Lawless and wild • “The country is wild and anyone might be ambushed at anytime. I am forced to leave people guarding my home when I go to church on Sunday I am guarded by twenty archers for fear of being ambushed”. • Sir John Wynn – reign of Henry VII • What can you learn from this source about law and order in Wales at this time? • How could lawlessness in Wales be addressed by the Act of Union?

11. Social The Welsh had different laws about inheriting land In England the land was given to the eldest son only on the fathers death. In Wales all male siblings could inherit, but this was making farming difficult because the amount of land was becoming too small. How would the Act of Union help to solve this problem?

12. Religious & Political The King was worried that Catholic monarchs in France and Spain might try to invade England though Wales. Henry was worried that Catholic monarchs in France and Spain, who wanted to see the Pope’s authority restored might try to invade England by landing their soldiers on the poorly defended coast of Wales. To make his kingdom secure, Henry decided to take direct control of the whole of the Kingdom – including Wales

13. Put a title ‘The Act of Union’ and copy this diagram into your book, making sure that you include the key and have coloured each box correctly Religious Political Social Wales was lawless and wild The King thought that the Welsh would continue to obey the Pope The King was worried that Catholic monarchs in France and Spain might try to invade England though Wales. Causes of the Act of Union The King was worried about the power of the Marcher Lords The Welsh had different laws about inheriting land The King wanted Wales to be the same as England

14. Use the whiteboard pen to link up the statements so that they match Causes of the Act of Union Consequences of the Act of Union Land in Wales was to be given to the eldest son instead of being shared equally Welshmen wanted a say in the running of the country. Farming in Wales was difficult because the amount of land was becoming too small. Wales will now have its own members of Parliament The monasteries in Wales were ‘dissolved’ and their land and wealth became Henry’s. The King wanted Wales to be the same as England in all ways. Wales was to be split into counties. Marcher Lordships will come to an end. Wales was lawless and wild. The King was not sure whether the welsh would obey the Pope or accept the Act of Supremacy. Wales is joined with England and the people of Wales have the same rights as those of England. Not all of Wales came under the rule of the King – some was ruled by the Marcher Lords. The laws in Wales will be the same as they are in the rest of the Kingdom. Answer

15. Causes of the Act of Union Consequences of the Act of Union Welshmen wanted a say in the running of the country. Wales will now have its own members of Parliament Farming in Wales was difficult because the amount of land was becoming too small. Land in Wales was to be given to the eldest son instead of being shared equally Wales is joined with England and the people of Wales have the same rights as those of England. The King wanted Wales to be the same as England in all ways. The laws in Wales will be the same as they are in the rest of the Kingdom. Wales was lawless and wild. The King was not sure whether the welsh would obey the Pope or accept the Act of Supremacy. The monasteries in Wales were ‘dissolved’ and their land and wealth became Henry’s. Not all of Wales came under the rule of the King – some was ruled by the Marcher Lords. Wales was to be split into counties. Marcher Lordships will come to an end.

16. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn,starting at number 1, and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

17. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

18. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

19. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

20. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

21. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

22. The web below shows some of the consequences of the Act of Union. Some of these consequences are Religious – to do with God, Church, Pope and monasteries. Some consequences are Political – to do with the way the country is is ruled, the King, law and order. Some of these consequences are Social – to do with education,language, work and farming Look at each box in turn and decide if it is a Religious, Political or Economic consequence. Click on each box to see if you are right 1. Wales had MPs for the first time after 1536 2. Henry introduced his religious changes 6. The King now had complete power in Wales Consequences of the Act of Union 3. The Welsh had the same rights as the English 5. Farming improved because of the new laws about inheriting land 4. English laws and language were introduced

23. Read the following sources to learn about some of the consequences of the Act of Union • ‘The people of Wales, who couldn’t speak English, felt that they were aliens in their own country’ • An historian’s view, 1985 • What do you think the author of this source meant by this comment?

24. ‘In the marches and in Wales, in the wild parts where I have been, there is order and quiet such as is now in England’ • Wigmore 1538 • According to this source has the Act of Union made life in Wales better or worse?

25. ‘King Henry showed excellent wisdom when he decided that there shall be no difference in laws and language between his subjects in Wales and his subjects in England’ • William Salesbury, Dictionary in English and in Welsh (1547) • Look at when this source was written, do you think that this is important when assessing how reliable it is?

26. Who benefited the most and least from the Act of Union? The act of Union affected different groups of people in Wales. Some people gained a great deal from the Act whilst others lost a great deal. Look at the following people and decide if they were winners or losers.

27. Henry VIII Winner Loser

28. Henry VIII Winner Try again Loser

29. Henry VIII Winner Well done, Henry VIII benefited a great deal from the Act of Union. The King now had complete power in Wales and he had removed the threat of the Marcher Lords. By dissolving the monasteries he was able to take their land and wealth and use it to make friends and influence people.

30. The Monasteries Winner Loser Image used with the kind permission of Tudors@history-people

31. The Monasteries Try again Winner Loser

32. The Monasteries Winner Loser Well done the Act of Union was a disaster for the monasteries. All 48 monasteries in Wales were closed and left to decay.

33. The ordinary Welsh Winner Loser Image used with the kind permission of Tudors@history-people

34. The ordinary Welsh Winner Loser The ordinary Welsh were winners and losers. At first the Acts were not too unpopular with the Welsh, who recognised that they would give them equality under law with English citizens and who were happy to see peace and order restored to the country. However this came at a price and many innocent Welsh were hung at the hands of Rowland Lee. In time many Welsh people also realised that the Act of Union meant an end to the Welsh culture and language.

35. The Marcher Lords Winner Loser Image used with the kind permission of Tudors@history-people

36. The Marcher Lords Try again Winner Loser

37. The Marcher Lords Winner Loser Well done , the Marcher Lords were big losers!. Wales was now split into counties and the Marcher Lordships came to an end. END