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The Peasants’ Revolt was a widespread uprising that took place across major parts of England in 1381. It was caused by social and economic tensions due to the Black Death in the 1340s, and the imposition of the high poll tax resulting from the Hundred Years’ War.
Key Facts & Information
Background
- Society in the late Middle Ages was feudal-based and hierarchical, with 90% of the population being peasants and the majority of the land being owned by the elite social class.
- Feudal lords controlled production in manors.
- Peasants were the laborers and the lowest class in the social strata.
- Freemen, also called yeomen, held some rights and property.
- Serfs had no rights and no land. They worked in exchange for permission to live on the land of a vassal.
- There had been disputes between peasants and landowners in the 12th and 13th centuries, but in the end the peasants always had to continue their duties.
- The situation changed in the 14th century following the Black Death.
The Black Death
- The Black Death was a bubonic plague that appeared in Afro-Eurasia from 1346 to 1353, causing the deaths of millions of people.
- Following the plague, there was a period of economic shock at first, with the deaths leaving major gaps in the country’s workforce.
- Deaths among the peasantry resulted in abundant land with fewer workers.
- Consequently, peasants could demand higher wages for their work.
- Peasants left their landlords for better wages elsewhere.
- Some took up specialist jobs that they were previously barred from.
- By the 1380s, the purchasing power of the lower class increased up to 40 percent.
- As the wealth of the peasants increased, Parliament enacted new laws to prevent them from purchasing goods that only the elite class had been able to afford.
The Hundred Years War
- Another major cause of the Peasants’ Revolt were the high taxes that resulted from the Hundred Years’ War.
- The Hundred Years’ War was a long-running conflict from 1337 to 1453 between England and France due to disputes over the French throne.
- After Edward’s death in 1377, his grandson Richard II, who was ten years old at the time, became the king of England.
- Between 1377 and 1381, heavy poll taxes were brought in to spend on recovery after the war.
- The English people, especially those from the lower class, were highly disgruntled by the taxes.
March to London
- The revolt drew in the urban poor and merchant classes. Together, they marched towards London to demand reform.
- Kentish rebels led by Wat Tyler ambushed Canterbury and killed members of the royal court.
- John Ball, one of the leaders of the revolt, rallied the rebels camped on the southern bank of Thames at Blackheath saying that “the time [was] given to them by God” to get their freedom.
- For his safety, King Richard II fled to the Tower of London.
Negotiations
- The rebels reached London, and rebel sympathizers opened the city gates for them.
- King Richard II believed that the solution to end the uprising was to heed the demands of the peasants and negotiate with them.
- Richard II sailed down the Thames to negotiate with the rebels, but his first attempt to do so failed.
- Rebels captured the Tower of London and executed many high-ranking officials.
- For the next attempt, Richard II agreed to meet the rebels outside of London.
- After a successful negotiation, the king agreed to banish serfdom and grant amnesty to rebels, which the rebels accepted.
- Even though the king agreed to their demands, some rebels remained in London and continued to revolt and target officials.
- Richard II agreed to meet revolt leader Wat Tyler again to deal with the revolt.
- In their meeting, Wat Tyler made more demands and acted rudely towards Richard II.
- They got caught in a disagreement that ended in the Mayor of London, William Walworth, killing Wat Tyler.
- King Richard II immediately re-established order in the city by promising reforms to the rebels.
- He permitted them to return to their homes.
Wider Revolts
- News of the rebellions reached the north, causing more uprisings to occur.
- John of Gaunt headed to Leicester to defend his castle from the rebels.
- Richard II sent an army to the south to end the remaining uprisings that were taking place there.
Broken Promises
- Richard II rescinded his promises to end serfdom and told the rebels that they would remain in bondage.
- New laws were enacted and serfdom was re-established, forcing peasants to return to the land they worked.
Peasants’ Revolt Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Peasant’s Revolt across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about The Peasants’ Revolt which was a widespread uprising that took place across major parts of England in 1381. It was caused by social and economic tensions due to the Black Death in the 1340s, and the imposition of the high poll tax resulting from the Hundred Years’ War.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Peasants’ Revolt Facts
- Rebellion Timeline
- Revo-cabulary
- Picture Clues
- Who’s Who?
- Dialogue
- Creative Narrative
- Factors Enumeration
- Revolt Slogans
- Key Point Discussion
- Further Research
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main causes of the Peasants’ Revolt?
The main causes of the Peasants’ Revolt were the social and economic tensions resulting from the Black Death in the 14th century, which led to labor shortages and increased wages for peasants. Additionally, the imposition of high poll taxes as a result of the Hundred Years’ War contributed to the discontent among the lower classes.
Who were the key leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt?
The Peasants’ Revolt was led by several key figures, including Wat Tyler, a Kentish rebel who played a significant role in organizing the revolt. John Ball, a radical preacher, also emerged as a prominent leader, rallying the rebels and advocating for social and economic reforms.
How did the Peasants’ Revolt progress?
The revolt began with the rebels marching towards London to demand reform. They ambushed Canterbury, killing members of the royal court, and camped on the southern bank of the Thames at Blackheath. The rebels eventually reached London with the support of sympathizers who opened the city gates for them.
Did the king negotiate with the rebels?
Yes, King Richard II initially attempted to negotiate with the rebels. He sailed down the Thames to meet them, but the first attempt failed. The rebels captured the Tower of London and executed high-ranking officials. After a subsequent negotiation outside of London, the king agreed to banish serfdom and grant amnesty to the rebels, which they accepted.
What was the outcome of the Peasants’ Revolt?
While the king initially agreed to the rebels’ demands, including the abolition of serfdom, he later rescinded his promises and re-established serfdom. The peasants were forced to return to the land they worked, and new laws were enacted. Despite this setback, the Peasants’ Revolt had a significant impact in terms of highlighting social and economic issues and inspiring future movements for reform.
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