Cromwell's Domestic Policies
Thomas Cromwell succeeded Wolsey as Henry VIII's chief minister from 1532-1540. As a skilled lawyer, Cromwell was instrumental in achieving the break with Rome and establishing royal supremacy through acts of Parliament.
Cromwell modernized government administration by creating specialized departments with defined procedures. For example, he established the Court of Augmentations to manage income from dissolved monasteries. He also reformed the Privy Council, reducing it to 20 members responsible for government business.
A key aspect of Cromwell's work was passing a series of parliamentary acts to establish Royal Supremacy:
• 1533 Act in Restraint of Appeals - Prevented Catherine from appealing to Rome
• 1534 Act of Succession - Made Princess Mary illegitimate
• 1534 Act of Supremacy - Removed papal authority in England
• 1534 Treason Act - Made it treasonous to call Henry a heretic
• 1536 Suppression Acts - Allowed confiscation of church lands
Definition: Royal Supremacy refers to the king's position as supreme head of the Church of England, replacing papal authority.
Quote: "Cromwell's policies revolutionised government as he achieved the royal supremacy through Acts of Parliament."