Why wasn't there more Opposition to the Reformation?

England had been a Catholic country for centuries, and the English were happy to follow traditional Catholic practices before the Reformation. Although Henry VIII had torn the English Church apart during the 1530s, there was remarkably little opposition to his actions. This was because of a number of reasons:

1. Fear. Obedience to and respect for Henry's decisions was a result of the sheer power of the Crown to torture or execute those who did not agree with the religious changes. People were afraid to go against Henry.
2. Many people thought that the changes wouldn't last. They did not oppose the Reformation because they believed that before long, Henry would return to the Pope in Rome, and Catholicism would be entirely restored in England.
3. Many people thought that Henry would remain Catholic. Not even the Pope really believed that Henry would dare to break with Rome. This became evident when Henry imprisoned Bishop Fisher: a Catholic bishop who opposed the religious changes that Henry was making. When Henry threatened to have Fisher executed, the Pope made Fisher a cardinal, believing that Henry would never dare to execute such a holy man. Fisher was executed, proving that people were wrong to believe that he would remain Catholic.
4. Many people benefitted from the changes, and so were more than happy to support Henry. They had self-interests at heart.
5. People wished to preserve themselves: they were happy to switch religions if it meant that they would escape persecution.
6. Some extremely powerful people supported Protestantism, mainly because they made gains from the Reformation and the break with Rome. The most important of these people were Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer. Anne Boleyn became Queen as a result of the religious change, Cromwell became very powerful and wealthy because he helped Henry with the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and Cranmer became Archbishop of Canterbury: the most powerful religious man in England. These three supported the King in his religious change.
7. Ordinary people did not notice the changes. They were not concerned with complicated theological arguments and the intricacies of changes in doctrine: they still attended church every Sunday, and took part in Communion. They did not really notice any change and so did not oppose it.
8. Religious changes were made separately, in steps rather than all at once. Had the steps towards Protestantism happened all at the same time, Henry may have met with much more opposition. However, the changes took place over a number of years instead.