P+P chapter 3 Peasant's Revolt Flashcards
When did the Black Death arrive in England?
1348
How much of the population did the Black Death kill?
a third
Why was the Black Death an advantage to surviving peasants?
they could move from village to village demanding higher wages and the lords could not deny their requests
What was passed in 1351?
Statute of Labourers
What was the Statute of Labourers?
A law that stated that peasants had to work for the same lord and for the same wages as before the plague
What was the reaction to the Statute of Labourers?
It angered the peasants: 70% of people brought to the Justices of Peace were accused of breaking the statute
What were the causes of the Peasant’s Revolt?
- Statute of Labourers
- Poll tax: everyone over 15 to pay 4 grouts
- Church exploitation
- John of Gaunt
Who was John Ball?
A preacher who believed everyone was equal and that the church was exploiting peasants. Although he was arrested, he had inspired many uprisings
Who was John Bampton?
A poll tax collector.
- 30 May: peasants refuse to pay him and threaten his life
2 June: rebels from other villages join forces, behead Bampton’s clerks and set fire to the houses of Bampton’s supporters
Who led the Peasant’s Revolt?
Wat Tyler
When did the Peasant’s Revolt occur?
May-June 1381
When was John Ball freed?
7 June from Maidstone prison. Led by Wat Tyler, they also stormed Rochester Castle and burnt tax records and government buildings
What happened on 12-13 June 1381?
The Peasant’s Revolt makes it to the city walls and Richard II agrees to meet on 17 June. The rebels enter the city and storm the Savoy, John of Gaunt’s home and burn it down. they kill merchants and supporters of the king
What happened on 14 June 1381?
Wat Tyler meets the king at Mile End and outlines the peasants demands. The king agrees and tells the peasants to go home in peace. Some kill the Archbishop of Canterbury instead
When was Wat Tyler killed?
15 June 1381 at Smithfield. Richard II meets the rebels to agree to more terms. One of the king’s men kills Tyler. Richard then rides forwards declaring himself their king and leader, leading the rebellion out of London
What were the demands of the Peasant’s Revolt?
- royal pardons to all involved
- all villeins to be freemen
- change to system of law
- Church lands to be given to the people
- no bishops, except for one
What happened after the Peasant’s Revolt?
Richard II didn’t keep his promises and stated he was forced into it. John Ball was hung and beheaded. His head was stuck on a spike next to Wat Tyler’s on London Bridge
What were the short term impacts of the Peasant’s Revolt?
- poll tax was removed
- wages rose
- peasant’s could buy their own land
What were the long term impacts of the Peasant’s Revolt?
- within 100 years, all villeins were freemen
- inspired Levellers, socialists and other riots to come
