Henry VIII and the Church of England, Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, the Civil War, Oliver Cromwell, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Key facts to remember
The most important points from this section for the Life in the UK test.
01 — Henry VIII & the Church of England
Henry VIII broke from Rome because the Pope refused to grant a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. He created the Church of England with the KING as head. The Church of England has existed since the Reformation in the 1530s.
02 — Henry VIII's Six Wives
The mnemonic "Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived" is essential. Questions ask about specific wives and their fates, which children they had, and where they were from.
03 — Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I
"Bloody Mary" = Mary I, Catholic, persecuted Protestants. The Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588 under Elizabeth I. Mary Queen of Scots was Elizabeth I's cousin -- not the same as Mary I.
04 — Exploration, Shakespeare & James I
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. John Cabot sailed from Bristol. The Gunpowder Plot was 1605 -- Guy Fawkes. The King James Bible was 1611. All of these dates and details appear in questions.
05 — Civil War, Cromwell & the Restoration
Charles I was executed in 1649 -- the ONLY English monarch to be executed. The English republic was called the Commonwealth. Cromwell was Lord Protector. The Restoration was 1660. The Habeas Corpus Act was 1679.
06 — The Glorious Revolution & Acts of Union
Glorious Revolution 1688 -- William of Orange replaces James II, no fighting. Bill of Rights 1689 -- Parliament supreme. Act of Union 1707 -- England + Scotland = Great Britain. 1801 adds Ireland = United Kingdom.
07 — Key Figures of the Era
Isaac Newton discovered gravity AND that white light contains all colours. Robert Burns wrote Auld Lang Syne and is known as "The Bard". John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress in prison.
Frequently asked questions — The Tudors and Stuarts
Test yourself on The Tudors and Stuarts
Reading is the first step — now test your knowledge with practice questions specific to this section.