Henry II's legal reforms
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the importance of Henry II's legal reforms and how they centralised his control.
Key learning points
- Legal matters were inconsistently dealt with by local courts and barons.
- Henry II established the Assizes to settle property disputes in local areas.
- Henry’s reforms restored and increased his royal authority in legal matters across England.
- The judgements of the Assizes developed the English Common Law.
- Henry II's legal reforms represent an important change in the English legal system.
Keywords
Legal - legal means connected to the law, for example, legal advice
Assize - an Assize was a royal court which travelled across England judging on local matters
Authority - authority is the power or ability to control or demand obedience
Reform - reform is when you make changes to improve something
Common law - common law is developed from previous judgements rather than laws made by politicians
Common misconception
History is not relevant to today.
Henry II’s reforms to the English legal system established the foundation of English common law, still in use today.
Teacher tip
A replica of the king’s seal is an inexpensive prop which gives pupils a great insight into the material culture of medieval kingship. Stimulating a discussion of how the Assizes increased Henry’s royal authority in legal matters across England.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? When Henry II became King, France was a unified nation.
Q2.Match the keywords with the correct definitions.
Q3.Write the missing word. Henry II's mother was Empress __________ .
Q4.Select the statement which most accurately describes Henry II's actions after the Anarchy.
Q5.How did Henry II's invasion of Ireland mark the beginning of English influence and control over the island?
Q6.Henry II was married to which powerful queen?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Before Henry II, the law was the same across all local courts in England.
Q2.Which of the following statements most accurately describes the Assizes?
Q3.Starting with the earliest, sort these stages into the order required for court cases to become common law.
Q4.Which important legal concept did Henry increase the use of?
Q5.Write the missing word. Henry II’s reforms to the English legal system established the foundation of English common __________ , still in use today.
Q6.What was the name of the wax item attached to written royal orders?
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Henry II's legal reforms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Henry II's legal reforms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the England under Henry II: how successfully did Henry reassert royal authority? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.