Henry VI and Richard of York
I can describe how Richard, Duke of York, came to challenge the rule of King Henry VI.
Henry VI and Richard of York
I can describe how Richard, Duke of York, came to challenge the rule of King Henry VI.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Unlike his successful warrior-king father, Henry VI was a weak Lancastrian king, lacking leadership and strength.
- Between 1450 and 1453 England lost land in France including Normandy and Gascony and rebellion rose in southern England.
- Henry VI collapsed and Richard, Duke of York, a noble of royal blood, seized his chance to take control of government.
- In December 1454, Henry VI resumed his rule and excluded York from government, leading to the Battle of St Albans.
- England had become unstable due Henry's weakness and York's willingness to use force against him.
Keywords
House - a family title, often used by royalty, which consists of monarchs who are related to each other
Normandy - a region in northern France
Gascony - an area of southwestern France which was owned by the English from 1151-1453
Common misconception
Students may believed that the Yorkists and Lancastrians were from different families.
The Lancastrians and Yorkists were both part of the Plantagenet family.
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: Henry VI and Richard of York, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: Henry VI and Richard of York, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Wars of the Roses: what does it tell us about fifteenth-century England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
monarchs who are related to each other
a region in northern France
an area of southwestern France, lost by the English in 1453