Why Did Henry VIII Lose Confidence in Wolsey? | Edexcel iGCSE History Lesson

This fully resourced Edexcel iGCSE History lesson explores the reasons why Henry VIII lost confidence in Thomas Wolsey. Written by a History examiner, the lesson dives into the Tudor politics that shaped Wolsey’s fall from favour, focusing on the personal and political failures that led to his downfall, especially the annulment crisis.

Students analyse the Blackfriars Court debacle, Wolsey’s failure to secure Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and the subsequent loss of royal trust. The lesson includes structured activities such as TEA (Topic, Evidence, Analysis) paragraphs, jumbled sentence exercises, and rankings of Wolsey’s problems. These tasks help students develop clear written explanations and critical thinking skills.

How I use this resource:
I use this lesson to develop analytical writing and exam technique for the Edexcel iGCSE Tudor History unit, focusing on Wolsey’s political failures and the Tudor system of favour.

Perfect for teachers seeking high-quality Edexcel GCSE Tudor resources to build literacy, analysis, and exam success.
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