The impact of the baronial wars on English society by 1471: the weakening of the aristocracy; the impact on trade and the economy
Two decades of civil war killed or ruined many noble families and disrupted England's trade. By 1471, English society looked very different from how it had in 1450.
Real World
The attainder of defeated nobles resembles a modern government freezing and seizing the assets of sanctioned oligarchs — the Earl of Oxford lost his estates after Barnet, effectively destroying his family's power base overnight.
Exam Focus
Distinguish 'weakening of the aristocracy' (deaths, attainders) from 'economic disruption' (trade decline) — examiners reward precise, separated analysis.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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