The Tudors and the Stuarts
Two families, two hundred years, and more test questions than any other period. This is where the Church of England and Parliament's power both begin.
Last updated
What the test asks about this period
The Tudors ruled from 1485 to 1603. The Stuarts followed. Their years include a civil war, the execution of a king, and a spell with no king at all.
Between them these two families changed the country's religion. They also settled that Parliament, not the monarch, holds the real power.
Expect several questions from this period. The names and dates below come up most often.
The Wars of the Roses and the first Tudor
- The houses of Lancaster and York fought the Wars of the Roses for the throne.
- Henry Tudor beat Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
- He became Henry VII, the first Tudor king. The Tudor rose joins the red rose of Lancaster and the white of York.
Henry VIII and the Reformation
- Henry VIII had six wives. Remember them as: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
- He broke with the Pope in Rome and made himself head of the Church of England.
- The Dissolution of the Monasteries closed the monasteries and took their land and wealth.
- He also built up the Royal Navy.
Test yourself on British history
Thirteen history questions with the answers explained, then a full mock test when you are ready.
British history questionsElizabeth I
- Daughter of Henry VIII, she reigned from 1558 to 1603 and never married.
- The English fleet defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.
- Mary, Queen of Scots was executed in 1587 on Elizabeth's orders.
- William Shakespeare was writing in this period.
The Stuarts and the Civil War
- Elizabeth died childless. James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603, joining the crowns.
- The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 failed. We remember it on 5 November.
- The English Civil War was fought over how much power the king should have against Parliament.
- King Charles I was executed in 1649. England had no king for eleven years.
- Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector.
Restoration and Glorious Revolution
- Charles II was invited back in 1660. This is called the Restoration.
- The Great Plague struck in 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666.
- In 1688 James II was removed without a battle and William III invited to rule. This is the Glorious Revolution.
- The Bill of Rights of 1689 said the king could not rule without Parliament.
Practice questions on this period
Here are 4 questions from our bank. The correct answer is marked, and under each one is a short reason.
Question 1. What was the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485)?
Topic: British History
- A battle in which Edward IV defeated the Lancastrian forces, ending the Wars of the Roses
- The battle in which Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, ending the Wars of the Roses and beginning the Tudor dynasty(correct answer)
- A battle between English and Scottish forces for control of the northern counties
- The final engagement of the Hundred Years' War, removing England from French territory
Why: Henry Tudor beat Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485. That ended the Wars of the Roses and began the Tudor line.
Question 2. What was the Dissolution of the Monasteries?
Topic: British History
- The abolition of Catholic religious orders by Queen Mary I
- Henry VIII's campaign to close monasteries and seize their wealth(correct answer)
- The Protestant Reformation's peaceful removal of monks from English society
- Edward VI's ban on all religious buildings
Why: Henry VIII closed the monasteries and took their money and land. This is called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Question 3. What was the Gunpowder Plot of 1605?
Topic: British History
- A failed attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I
- A failed Catholic plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I(correct answer)
- A successful revolution against the Stuart monarchy
- An Irish rebellion against English rule
Why: In 1605 Guy Fawkes and others tried to blow up Parliament and kill James I. It failed, and we remember it on 5 November.
Question 4. What was the Glorious Revolution of 1688?
Topic: British History
- A peasant uprising that overthrew the feudal system
- The peaceful overthrow of King James II and the invitation of William III to rule with Protestant principles(correct answer)
- The founding of the Bank of England and the national debt
- A revolution in Ireland that established an Irish Republic
Why: In 1688 James II was removed without a battle and William III was invited to rule. This is called the Glorious Revolution.
These are not the real exam questions, which are not published. Ours are written from the same official handbook.
Where to go next
- Previous period: The Norman Conquest of 1066
- Next period: The Industrial Revolution
- All history questions: British History Questions
- The full chapter: British History study guide
- Drill this topic: practice by topic
History is the largest topic in the test. You need 18 out of 24 overall, so it is worth more of your time than any other period.
Common questions
Why did Henry VIII break with Rome?
He wanted his marriage annulled and the Pope refused. He made himself head of the Church of England instead, which began the Reformation in England.
What caused the English Civil War?
A struggle over power between King Charles I and Parliament. Religion and money were both part of it.
What was the Glorious Revolution?
The removal of James II in 1688 and the invitation to William III to rule in his place. It happened without a battle in England, which is why it is called glorious.
Which Tudor and Stuart dates should I learn?
1485 for Bosworth, 1588 for the Spanish Armada, 1605 for the Gunpowder Plot, 1649 for the execution of Charles I, 1666 for the Great Fire, and 1688 for the Glorious Revolution.
Practise the whole test
24 questions across all six topics, marked against the real pass mark of 18.
Take a free mock test