The failure of foreign policy in the years 1514-1525 can be attributed to many things. The combination of Henry's isolation from European affairs and the fact that his attempts to raise tax were ultimately unpopular failures, meant that he had no way to impose himself upon Europe. Even when he did manage to scrape together the finances needed for a strong foreign policy his reliance on his allies led to disaster. As soon as Henry took the throne in 1509, it was obvious that he was a king that wanted to fight a war. However, wars generally led to very expensive costs to the country.
The truth lies most evidently in source 6, for the context of Henry’s reign gives an insight into these situations being rooted in Henry’s menial resources. Moreover, it could be proposed source 4 and 5 also conform to this reasoning, for it was his chronic lack of assets that led to his inability to sway European politics. Henry’s foreign policy failed because of a range of interchanging factors, yet they are all born from his definitive lack of resources. The other prominent leaders in European diplomacy were instrumental in Henry’s failed foreign policy. Source 4 and source 6 both illustrate the problems leaders like Maximillian and Ferdinand posed to Henry.
There are several reasons and causes for the wars, including growing religious tensions, weak monarchs, foreign intervention, the role of Catherine de Medici and the existence of weak Kings coupled with strong Nobles. These factors provided shaky foundations, which, when confronted with a collapsing economy, led to rebellion and civil war. One of the most important reasons for war in the second half of the century was the existence of weak kings. During the first half of the century, France was led by domineering Monarchs, who kept control with an authoritarian style. In addition, the wars only ended when a strong King returned to the Throne; Henry IV after the ninth war.
In source 1 Smith states that “The Spanish war imposed heavy burdens on the country” which is shown in the fact Elizabeth incurred debts of ‘£300,000 a year in ordinary revenue’, and her expedition in the new world lost the English over £5,000 and gave henry iv of France £20,000 to gain his loyalty. Elizabeth then decided to ‘sell crown lands’ in order to help pay for the war but by doing so she damaged the English economy as it meant that the income she got from crown lands was a one of payment as they no longer belonged to her, unlike when she had put them up for renting which would gain more money overtime and was a steady way for the crown to gain money. Smith also talks about the ‘monopolies crisis of 1601’ which is
Why did fighting break out in 1455? To understand why fighting broke out we must first analyse the time period leading up to said event. From 1450-55 the situation the crown found itself in was very volatile, the slightest disturbance at nobility level could cause shockwaves that reverberated throughout the whole kingdom. King Henry VI had built a terrible reputation, demonstrating the inability to be decisive and clinical many a time. This lack of leadership at the highest level would inevitably cause disturbances to many facets of society; quarrels between nobility were not regulated or controlled, ownership of lands (abroad as well as England) was not properly accounted for.
That agricultural industry in the South was so corrupt that farmers gained no profit from their livestock and crops, therefore was inefficient and moving backwards. Communication between the North and South was very difficult, almost as if the North and South were two different countries, the Liberal government didn’t do a very good job in controlling the two divisions. Cavour said “To harmonise the north with the south is more difficult than to fight Austria or struggle with Rome.” In 1896 Italy tried to gain back their empire, in doing so they tried to take Adowa back in Africa, but suffered a humiliating defeat, and stunted their right to being called ‘a Great Nation’. Due to the fact that Liberal Italy found it hard to communicate across the two divisions, Liberal Italy was therefore unstable and not very secure. The new
With a lack of communication on both sides and an unhappy country, it would have been very difficult to govern such a hostile environment as no members of public would have followed the laws or asks of their leader. Finally, the diverse economy makes laws very hard to put into place because certain introductions are going to benefit some whilst disadvantaging others e.g. The introduction of taxes for the rich to pay for the peasants would not have gone down well with some, but helped others back into a quality of life. For the above reasons, Russia was extremely hard to govern in the 19th Century. “Why was Russia so hard to govern in the 19th Century?” Russia was so hard to govern in the 19th Century due to the political situation, angry people and diverse economy.
The political impact of France was the main factor that spread ideas. Soldiers who fought in America bought some of the ideas back across to France. Even though victory restored some prestige to the monarchy, the financial impact of the war was to make this restoration of prestige short lived. The American war was an important cause because it affected France in a lot of ways. France got affected economically which made the people of France lose hope on monarch.
Additionally, Henry's grasping nature was particularly unpopular among those expected to pay him and this stirred opposition making it difficult for Henry to collect revenues and improve financial stability. Henry took a particular interest in his finances and in the first two years of his reign Henry abandoned the Yorkist practice of using the chamber and instead decided to resume with the exchequer to take control of royal finances. However, by 1487 it was evident that this had been a major mistake. Due to Henry focusing on in hi security he neglected other important aspects of the crown like his estates. In Edward's reign
The changes were Europe’s craving hunger for knowledge and the Church’s decline in power. The end of the Middle ages was mostly in part due to deplorable wars such as the Crusades, the Peasant Revolt, and due to significant ambition for knowledge among the individuals of Europe and the decline in the Church’s power. Long, bloody, and brutal expeditions also known as the Crusades, greatly impacted the end of the Middle Ages due to the chaotic disorder and bedlam it caused as well as the newfound finance and trade markets it brought. War is never a good thing for a country, and a prolong war such as the Crusades did bring disorder to Europe. Many lives were lost and those who came back were spiritually and mentally affected and placed in asylums.