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Tudor Timeline Strip

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Tudor Timeline Strip

Put the events in order, then use evidence to explain how Henry Tudor became king. Dates are written in years CE. Remember: events can have more than one cause.

The route to the throne

In the 1400s, two branches of the royal family—the Houses of Lancaster and York—fought for the English crown in a series of conflicts later called the Wars of the Roses. In 1483, Richard III became king after the death of his brother, Edward IV. Richard’s rule was challenged. Henry Tudor, whose claim came through his mother’s Lancastrian family, gathered support and crossed from France to England. On 22 August 1485, Henry’s forces defeated Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Richard was killed, and Henry became King Henry VII. In 1486, Henry married Elizabeth of York, joining the two rival houses. Their son, Henry VIII, was born in 1491. The Tudor dynasty ruled England until 1603.

1.Timeline challenge: Put these events in chronological order by writing 1–5 beside each one. A. Henry and Elizabeth marry (1486). B. Richard III becomes king (1483). C. Henry Tudor becomes king after Bosworth (1485). D. Henry VIII is born (1491). E. The Wars of the Roses are fought (mid-to-late 1400s).

2.Use the number line to locate 1485. Which event happened closest before it: Richard III becoming king in 1483, or the start of the Wars of the Roses in 1455?

3.Choose the best explanation: Why did Henry Tudor’s victory at Bosworth matter?

It made him king after Richard III was defeated and killed.
It ended the Tudor dynasty.
It was the year Henry VIII was born.
It joined the Houses of York and Lancaster through marriage.

4.True or false? Henry VII married Elizabeth of York before the Battle of Bosworth.

TrueFalse

5.Complete the cause-and-effect chain using these words: support, Bosworth, king. Henry Tudor gathered , won the Battle of , and became .

6.Which event helped bring the rival royal houses together after Henry became king? Explain what was joined.

7.Match each person to the correct description.

Richard III
Henry VII
Elizabeth of York

Tudor king who married Elizabeth of York
King defeated at Bosworth
Yorkist princess who married Henry VII

8.Historical judgement: Which mattered more in making Henry Tudor king—the support he gathered or his victory at Bosworth? Give one reason for your choice and use a date or event from the passage.

9.A timeline strip runs from 1450 to 1500. Mark 1485 and add a short label for the Battle of Bosworth. Then mark 1486 and label Henry VII’s marriage. Which event comes first, and how many years apart are they?

10.Finish the summary in one or two sentences: The Tudor dynasty began when… Include Henry Tudor, Bosworth, and one later event that strengthened his position.