Why was Thomas More executed?

Why was Thomas More executed?

• A. For his refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church of England
• B. For supporting the Reformation financially
• C. For treason against the city of London
• D. For heresy against Erasmus

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the authority of the king over religion and the legal obligation to recognize that authority. Henry VIII established the King as supreme head of the Church of England, breaking with Rome, and Parliament confirmed this with the Act of Supremacy. A later Treason Act made it high treason to dispute that royal supremacy or to refuse the required oath. Thomas More refused to acknowledge the king as head of the church and would not swear the oath, upholding papal authority instead. Because of that principled stand, he was charged with treason and executed. This isn’t about financial support for the Reformation, nor about treason against London, nor about any charge of heresy against Erasmus—the legal charge centered on his refusal to accept the king’s supremacy over the church.

The key idea is the authority of the king over religion and the legal obligation to recognize that authority. Henry VIII established the King as supreme head of the Church of England, breaking with Rome, and Parliament confirmed this with the Act of Supremacy. A later Treason Act made it high treason to dispute that royal supremacy or to refuse the required oath. Thomas More refused to acknowledge the king as head of the church and would not swear the oath, upholding papal authority instead. Because of that principled stand, he was charged with treason and executed.

This isn’t about financial support for the Reformation, nor about treason against London, nor about any charge of heresy against Erasmus—the legal charge centered on his refusal to accept the king’s supremacy over the church.