Henry II's legal reforms | History | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

True or false? When Henry II became King, France was a unified nation.
- True
- False ✓
Match the keywords with the correct definitions.
- centralise
  
  ⇔
  
  when parts are united together and controlled from one place ✓
- allegiance
  
  ⇔
  
  when somebody is loyal to a lord or monarch ✓
- duchy
  
  ⇔
  
  the area of land controlled by a duke or duchess ✓
Write the missing word. Henry II's mother was Empress __________ .
- 'Matilda' ✓
Select the statement which most accurately describes Henry II's actions after the Anarchy.
- Henry lost all of his royal lands.
- Henry failed to control his royal lands.
- Henry took control of his royal lands. ✓
How did Henry II's invasion of Ireland mark the beginning of English influence and control over the island?
- Going forward, English monarchs claimed to be the rightful rulers of Ireland. ✓
- Going forward, Irish monarchs claimed to be the rightful rulers of Ireland.
- Going forward, Welsh monarchs claimed to be the rightful rulers of Ireland.
Henry II was married to which powerful queen?
- Elizabeth I
- Eleanor of Aquitaine ✓
- Empress Matilda

True or false? Before Henry II, the law was the same across all local courts in England.
- True
- False ✓
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the Assizes?
- They were a set of laws that governed the Church in England.
- They established the principles of trial by ordeal.
- They were written royal orders used by travelling courts. ✓
- They focused on the regulation of trade and commerce.
Starting with the earliest, sort these stages into the order required for court cases to become common law.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  crime occurs
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  judge reviews old laws
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  judge’s decision becomes law
Which important legal concept did Henry increase the use of?
- baronial courts
- feudalism
- juries ✓
Write the missing word. Henry II’s reforms to the English legal system established the foundation of English common __________ , still in use today.
- 'law' ✓
What was the name of the wax item attached to written royal orders?
- The king's seal ✓
- The king's signature
- The king's sword

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Legal matters were inconsistently dealt with by local courts and barons.
Henry II established the Assizes to settle property disputes in local areas.
Henry’s reforms restored and increased his royal authority in legal matters across England.
The judgements of the Assizes developed the English Common Law.
Henry II's legal reforms represent an important change in the English legal system.

History is not relevant to today.

Henry II’s reforms to the English legal system established the foundation of English common law, still in use today.

Legal - legal means connected to the law, for example, legal advice
Assize - an Assize was a royal court which travelled across England judging on local matters
Authority - authority is the power or ability to control or demand obedience
Reform - reform is when you make changes to improve something
Common law - common law is developed from previous judgements rather than laws made by politicians