Case Study 3- The Peasants' Revolt (1381)

History AQA GCSE

The Black Death

A deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351 and arrived in England in 1348 and killed at least 33% of the population

Statue of Laborers (1351)

law passed by English parliament in 1351 - limited wages of peasants to pre-plague levels and restricted their ability to leave land of their traditional masters.

Edward III dies

1377

Richard II

1377-1399- Edward III's grandson

Hundred Years War

War between France and Britain, lasted 116 years, mostly a time of peace, but it was punctuated by times of brutal violence (1337 to 1453)- They were 50 years into the war at this point

Poll Tax

A flat rate tax raised 3 times leading up to 1381 everyone paid the same amount regardless of their wealth

What happened during the Peasants' Revolt?

- Richard II demands peasants to pay the 3rd Poll Tax
- John Ball was arrested after preaching that everyone was equal
- Tax collectors are forced to flee, threatened and beheaded in Kent, Essex and Brentwood
- Wat Tyler leads rebellion of 60,000 rebels into London. They break open jails and burn tax offices

What happened during the Peasants' Revolt?

- The King agrees to meet but refuses after seeing 60,000 rebels
- Rebels burn John of Gaunt's Savoy Palace
- Richard II issued a charter promising the end of serfdom and a pardon for all rebels
- Simon of Sudbury and Robert Hales are beheaded at the Tower of London
- Richard II meets with Wat Tyler at Smithfields but Wat Tyler insults the King and the Mayor London stabs Wat Tyler

short term outcomes

- Serfdom still exists
-1500 rebels executed
-King cancelled his charters and reissued the Statutes of Labourers
- No more Poll Tax
-Wages rise
-Protest turns violent

long term outcomes

- Set precedent for later rebellions (oliver cromwell)
- wages rise
-serfdom declines
future monarchs are more cautious
-rising political role of peasants

Significance of the Peasants' Revolt

- 1st example of peasants challenging the King
- Undermines Great Chain of Being & Divine Right
- Fines + Penalties no longer enforced
- Precedent for later rebellions
- Wages rise from labour shortages
-Falling authority of ruling classes
- Rising political role of peasants

Economic Causes

- Poll Tax
- Rising and decreasing of taxes

Political Causes

- Statutes of Labourers (1351)
- Population hasn't recovered after the Black Death

Military Causes

- The Hundred Year War with France

Religious Causes

- John Ball preaching that everyone is equal

Social Causes

- Black Death led to labour shortages
-Peasants demand higher wages
-Feudal System, serfs displeased with lack of freedom

Methods of protest

Violent (beheading tax collectors)
Economic (John of Gaunt, Simon of Sudbury and Robert Hales raised 3rd Poll Tax)