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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 kings 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. How did the Act of Union change the map of Wales?
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 Kings 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 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 Popes 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
23. Read the following sources to learn about some of the consequences of the Act of Union The people of Wales, who couldnt speak English, felt that they were aliens in their own country
An historians 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
28. Henry VIII
29. Henry VIII
30. The Monasteries
31. The Monasteries
32. The Monasteries
33. The ordinary Welsh
34. The ordinary Welsh
35. The Marcher Lords
36. The Marcher Lords
37. The Marcher Lords