Year 8 Independent Learning Assessment (Advanced)

Who was the most successful Monarch?

In this assessment you have to compare three monarchs from the list below and rank them in order of how successful they were.

The monarchs to choose from are:

Henry VII Henry VIII

Edward VI Mary I Elizabeth I

Charles I James I

You will need to give reasons why you have ranked the three in that order. Use the successful monarch grid in this pack to help you decide how successfully each monarch dealt with the problems that arose during their reign.

Week One and Two - Planning

Choose your three monarchs and research them. Make notes and highlight key events in their reigns.

Think about what makes a monarch successful while you do this.

You could use work you have done in your exercise book or your folder to help.

You could also use the success/failure grids and spider diagrams in this pack to help.

Week Three and Four

Begin your write –up. You can take one monarch at a time to outline their successes and failures or you could compare their achievements and failings in each of the following areas, giving plenty of factual examples. This is probably the best method

·  What were their successes and failures?

·  Were they successful in leaving an heir?

·  Were they successful in war?

·  Were they successful with dealing with religious issues?

·  Were they successful in making money?

·  Did they control the country successfully?

Use comparative connectives to show your understanding. These include phrases such as: -

·  However

·  But

·  Unlike

·  Similarly

·  Likewise

·  On the other hand

Week Five

Conclude your write-up with a detailed conclusion.

Put your three monarchs in the order you have chosen and explain why they are more or less successful than each other. Again use comparative connectives in this and back up your points with factual evidence.

Issue / success / failure / neither / Evidence
Winning wars
Keeping control of the country
Producing an heir
Making money
Religious changes
Other


Key Events in Three Monarchs’ Reigns

Henry VIII / Elizabeth I / Charles I
War / Scotland and France / Spanish Armada / Civil Wars
Marriage / 6 wives / None / 1 wife, Henrietta Maria from France
Heir / 3; Mary, Elizabeth and Edward / None / Son, Charles
Religion / Split from Roman Catholic Church / Made England Protestant / Made some changes
control / Forced people to obey / Forced people to obey / Lost control
Money / Made from dissolution of the monasteries / Made from robbing Spanish ships and the colonies / Made from tax