Peasants Revolt Flashcards
Who are serfs and villeins
They had to work three days a week on the lords land for no pay. They also had to do other work and pay fines to the Lord. They wanted to be paid wages like free labourers. They wanted to end the feudal system becoming free labourers.
What are 2 short term causes for the revolt
The Poll Tax
John Ball
What is the poll tax
Taxes where rare but three taxes where collected in 4 years.
This was to pay for the hundred year’s war, however nobody knew much about it or cared. The poll tax was unfair as everyone over 14 had to pay the same amount no matter if you were rich or poor.
In 1377- 4 pence
In 1379- 4 pence
In 1380- 12 pence (1 shilling) which could be two weeks wages!
In 1380 lots of people hid from tax collectors. So in 1381 tax collectors came back looking for people they’d missed.
Who was John Ball
Poor priests like John ball stirred up peasants against the lords.
They said the church was to rich and bishops have forgotten how God wanted his churches, therefore they wanted no bishops.
God wanted an equal world, with no lords as in the Adam and Eve story. They said the feudal system was against God’s wishes.
“We are men formed in Christ likeness and they treat us like beasts”.
What where the peasants thinking
Many peasants, already angry about their pay conditions, where pushed by the heavy taxes and words of men like Ball into hitting back. It was dangerous to rebel but they where desperate.
What happened in May 1381
The peasant’s anger erupted as tax collectors arrived again. The people feared a new poll tax. However they where just looking for the people they had missed in 1380.
What happens to a land owner in Essex
He led peasants in refusing to pay tax collectors in the village of fobbing. However three of his clerks where killed a few days later.
Who was made leader of Kent
Wat Tyler
Who’s palace did they burn down
In Canterbury they burned down the palace of the archbishop as he was also chancellor so he was blamed for the poll tax.
Where where other riots
Sussex and Surrey across East Anglia to Norfolk and as far as Dorset and Yorkshire.
What did the peasants mainly attack and destroy
Mannor houses where attacked
Tax records and legal documents were destroyed
Law courts and jails were also attacked.
How many Rebels went to London from Essex and Kent
About 60,000 to take their complaints to Richard ll, who they believed would agree to their demands.
Where did the Kent and Essex rebels camp
Kent- Blackheath
Essex- Mile End, outside London
What date did the Kent rebels break into Fleet Prison
12th June, 1381
Where did Richard ll try to meet them
Blackheath but rowed back to the Tower of London.
