Y104: England 1377-1455 | OCR A-Level History A (H505)

Y104: England 1377-1455

105 questions
10 subtopics
British period study and enquiry, one of thirteen
Y101 to Y113

England 1377–1455 is unit Y104 of OCR History A, one of the thirteen options in unit group 1, the British period study and enquiry; a student sits one of them.

Its seven key topics are Richard II’s minority 1377–1380, personal Rule 1380–1388, personal Rule and overthrow 1388–1399, the reign of Henry IV, the domestic rule of Henry V, war with France 1399–1453, the minority of Henry VI and the origins of the Wars of the Roses. 99 recall questions across 10 subtopics.

Sample questions from Y104: England 1377-1455

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

The reign of Henry IV: Bolingbroke’s claim, the Epiphany Rising and Glyndŵr’s revolt

Explain why Henry IV had Richard II's body displayed publicly in London.

Show the answer
He needed to prove Richard was dead and to kill the rumours that he was alive and would return, since those rumours continued to feed plots against the new dynasty.
The reign of Henry IV: the Percy rebellions, finance, the Lollards and Henry IV’s illness

Where and when did the Percy rebellion finally end?

Show the answer
At the Battle of Bramham Moor in 1408, where the Earl of Northumberland was killed.
The domestic rule of Henry V: restoration of order and royal authority, burning of John Badby

Explain why the restoration of order at home mattered so much to Henry V.

Show the answer
He intended to renew the war in France, and he could not take an army abroad unless the shires were quiet and the nobility were reconciled behind him.
The domestic rule of Henry V: Leicester Parliament, Southampton Plot and developments in Government

Besides heresy, what other problem did the Leicester Parliament address?

Show the answer
It passed the Statute of Truces, punishing breaches of truces at sea, which was aimed at the English pirates whose raids were embarrassing Henry's diplomacy.
War with France 1399–1453: relations with France under Henry IV, campaign of 1415 and Agincourt

Describe relations with France under Henry IV.

Show the answer
There was no declared war but constant hostility: the French backed Glyndŵr and the Scots and raided the south coast, while Henry intervened in the French civil war, first on the Burgundian side and then, by the Treaty of Bourges in 1412, on the Armagnac side.
War with France 1399–1453: the conquest of Normandy, the Treaty of Troyes and the loss of France

State the main terms of the Treaty of Troyes.

Show the answer
Henry V was recognised as heir and regent of France and married Charles VI's daughter Catherine, the Dauphin was disinherited, and the two crowns were to be united in one person while the kingdoms remained separate.
The minority of Henry VI and the origins of the Wars of the Roses: the minority government and the rivalry of Gloucester and Beaufort

How and why did the lords alter that plan in 1422?

Show the answer
Fearing to place near-royal power in the hands of one ambitious prince, they refused Gloucester the title of regent, made him Protector and Defender only and subordinate to Bedford in England, and vested real authority in a council of lords.
The minority of Henry VI and the origins of the Wars of the Roses: Suffolk’s fall, Cade’s Rebellion and the rise of York to 1455

Give three grievances of Cade's rebels in 1450.

Show the answer
They complained of the grasping and corrupt councillors around the king, of extortion and abuse of justice by officers such as Lord Saye and Sele, and of the exclusion of the king's true kinsmen, above all the Duke of York, from his counsels.

The 10 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic	What it covers	Questions
The reign of Henry IV: Bolingbroke’s claim, the Epiphany Rising and Glyndŵr’s revolt	Recall questions on Henry IV’s claim to the throne, the fate of Richard II, the Epiphany Rising of 1400, and Owain Glyndŵr’s rising with its plan of 1405 and foreign support.	9
The reign of Henry IV: the Percy rebellions, finance, the Lollards and Henry IV’s illness	Recall questions on the Percy rebellions and Shrewsbury, the execution of Scrope, relations with France and Scotland, royal finance and parliament, action against the Lollards and the effect of Henry IV’s illness.	11
The domestic rule of Henry V: restoration of order and royal authority, burning of John Badby	Recall questions on the restoration of order and royal authority, the parliament of 1413, anti-clerical developments, causes, nature and reasons for the growth of Lollardy, the Oldcastle Rebellion and its impact, the burning of John Badby.	10
The domestic rule of Henry V: Leicester Parliament, Southampton Plot and developments in Government	Recall questions on the Leicester Parliament, the Southampton Plot and developments in Government.	9
War with France 1399–1453: relations with France under Henry IV, campaign of 1415 and Agincourt	Recall questions on relations with France under Henry IV, the campaign of 1415 and Agincourt.	8
War with France 1399–1453: the conquest of Normandy, the Treaty of Troyes and the loss of France	Recall questions on command of the sea in 1416, the campaigns of 1417 to 1420, Rouen, the Treaty of Troyes, Baugé, Joan of Arc, Burgundy’s desertion, the loss of Normandy, Castillon and the domestic effects of defeat.	12
The minority of Henry VI and the origins of the Wars of the Roses: the minority government and the rivalry of Gloucester and Beaufort	Recall questions on Henry V’s plans for his son’s minority, how the lords altered them, the quarrel between Gloucester and Cardinal Beaufort, the Parliament of Bats and the preservation of royal authority.	8
The minority of Henry VI and the origins of the Wars of the Roses: Suffolk’s fall, Cade’s Rebellion and the rise of York to 1455	Recall questions on the charges against Suffolk, the Act of Resumption of 1450, Cade’s Rebellion, York’s return from Ireland and Dartford, Henry VI’s collapse in 1453 and government up to 1455.	12
Enquiry: Richard II’s minority 1377–1380 and Personal Rule 1380–1388 — England in 1377, the Peasants’ Revolt and the war with France	Recall questions on England at Richard II’s accession, John of Gaunt and the councils, the poll taxes, the causes and events of the Peasants’ Revolt, and the renewed war with France to 1380.	14
Enquiry: Personal Rule 1380–1388, Personal Rule and overthrow 1388–1399 — favourites, the Appellants and Richard’s tyranny and overthrow	Recall questions on de la Pole and de Vere, the Wonderful and Merciless Parliaments, the Lords Appellant, Richard’s recovery after 1389, his tyranny from 1397, and Bolingbroke’s return and Richard’s removal.	12

Y104: England 1377-1455 is 105 of the 6,240 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £8

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.