Final answer:
Henry VIII's reformation was driven by political needs to secure a male heir and establish control over religious authority in England, leading to the appointment of Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop of Canterbury, who then facilitated Henry's marital annulment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry VIII's Decision for Reformation and Archbishop Appointment
Henry VIII's religious reformation in England primarily occurred for political reasons, as he needed a male heir to continue the Tudor dynasty. When Catherine of Aragon failed to provide a male heir, Henry sought to annul the marriage. This annulment was crucial for producing a successor and severing the English church's ties to Rome's authority. Thomas Cranmer, who became the Archbishop of Canterbury, played a significant role by granting Henry his desired annulment, thus aiding in the establishment of the Church of England, with Henry at its helm.
The reformation was not strictly for religious, economic, or diplomatic reasons alone, but rather a combination with a strong emphasis on political necessity. Henry's break from the Catholic Church enabled him to control religious and political matters within his realm, consequently leading to the dissolution of monasteries and the appropriation of their wealth to the crown's treasury.
While the Anglican Church maintained most Catholic doctrines, the significant exception was the monarch's new role as the church's head, a shift that cemented the English monarch's power over religious affairs in England.