belonging to the class of rich landowners such as lords

an ordinary person, not part of the royal family or nobility

an organisation set up to improve control in the north

an area along the border between England and Wales

in this lesson, this refers to money granted as a favour or reward

Edward IV's stable second reign

History

A study of the Wars of the Roses helps to contextualise the decline of feudalism and the rise of the Tudor household which pupils will move on to study (Y8). Pupils will also be able to re-visit their knowledge of civil wars when studying the English Civil War and Glorious Revolution (Y8).

Pupils will already have an understanding of the deposition on Kings and civil wars through their studies of the Anarchy and the Magna Carta. Pupils will also have a strong understanding of medieval warfare and the importance of the Hundred Years War to the Kings of England. Finally, the declining power of feudalism links back to pupils' study of the Peasants' Revolt.

The Wars of the Roses: what does it tell us about fifteenth-century England?

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Match each keyword with its correct definition.

the importance of punishing those who rebelled against him

the importance of keeping the support of the nobility

the importance of keeping the support of the commoners

the importance of showing favouritism to his family

What lesson did Edward IV learn from his first reign?

Edward IV threatened to remove those who criticised her from court.

The court of Edward IV did not object to her being a commoner.

She was supported by her powerful Woodville relatives and produced heirs.

She ordered those who opposed her to be executed.

Why was Elizabeth Woodville eventually accepted by the royal court as queen consort?

Write the missing word. Edward set up {{ }} to rule lawless areas in the Welsh Marches and the North.

restored the support of those who had fought against him

made agreements with Burgandy which helped the wool industry

set up councils and reduced the power of the Marcher Lords

won the French pension which boosted royal income and kept taxes down

Match each improvement in Edward's second reign with how he achieved it.

Which description of Edward IV's second reign is most appropriate?

She was an English commoner and had already been married before.

She was a French princess and France was England's enemy.

She was too old to be able to have any children.

She was a Scottish princess and Scotland was England's enemy.

Why was Elizabeth Woodville considered to be an inappropriate wife for Edward IV?

Which princess did the Earl of Warwick try to arrange for Edward to marry?

Due to Warwick's power and influence over other members of the nobility, historians have nicknamed him the ...

At which battle was Edward, the son of Henry VI, killed?

Complete the sentence: Edward IV's failure to keep the support of the {{ }} meant his first reign was unstable.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Edward IV's stable second reign

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.