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34 Merchant Taylors’ Prep School Newsletter - 10.02.2022 MTP History Learning to Prioritise Causes This term, Year 6 have been examining events in 16th Century England around the time of the English Reformation. Their challenge was to compare and prioritise the different causes of events, considering whether they were religious, economic, political or personal. First we looked at different sources about Henry’s motivation for the Reformation, starting with colour coding and then writing a summary paragraph. The boys then wrote a structured paragraph to argue which cause was the most significant, giving reasons to support their answer. Later, after a study of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the boys employed the same skills to consider the motivations for the brutal execution of Abbot Whiting, Have they convinced you? Mrs Waddell Head of History I think the most important reason for Henry’s decision was power. Power was important because Henry wanted to carry on the Tudor dynasty so needed an heir. Another important factor was money. It was also relevant because that was a key factor for Henry as he needed money to run the country and fight wars. However, power was more important than money because he only needed the money to have more control over England. Timi Akisanya Arguments About Causes of the Reformation I think the most important reason for Henry’s decision was power. Power was important because Henry was determined to secure the Tudor dynasty. Another important factor was religion. It was relevant because Henry was desperate to have a male heir. He blamed Catherine of Aragon’s failure to produce a male heir on the fact that the Bible stated that if you married your brother’s wife, you would not have a child. I believe that power was more important than religion because he was desperate for a male heir to secure his dynasty. Religion provided him with an excuse to end his marriage. Pranav Lakhani I think that the most important reason was power because he wanted to secure the Tudor Dynasty and so he needed a male heir. Another reason was religion. The Protestant Reformation in Europe gave Henry another alternative to end his marriage after the Pope had declined his original request. This also mean that Henry could see how other countries had carried out their Reformation so his action felts less risky. I believe that power was more important than religion because it was the desire for an heir which drove Henry to take this decisive action. In my view, religion was just the excuse that enabled him to do so. Gabriel Birch I think that the most important reason for Henry’s decision was power. Power was important because he needed a new wife for a healthy male heir. This was important because he wanted to have a good succession as his father had come from an illegitimate line. Henry VIII wanted the Tudor Dynasty to go on so he needed a male heir. Another important reason was money. Henry was bankrupt and if he started a new church, he would get more money rather than it going to the Pope. However, I think that power was more important than money because it was the main reason for Henry’s decision. If Catherine of Aragon had produced two or three sons, I do not think the reformation would have happened. Yuveer Singh Cheema