The Peasants' Revolt 1381

The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was the first major popular uprising in English history. Thousands of ordinary people marched on London to demand an end to serfdom, lower taxes, and greater freedom. Although the revolt was ultimately suppressed, it demonstrated that the common people could challenge the authority of the king and the ruling class.

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Background: Life After the Black Death

The Black Death of 1348--49 killed approximately one-third of England's population. This had profound consequences for the surviving peasants.

Change	Detail
Labour shortage	Far fewer workers meant peasants could demand higher wages
Greater freedom	Some peasants left their manors to work for better pay elsewhere
Landlord resistance	Lords tried to keep wages low and prevent peasants from leaving
Statute of Labourers (1351)	Parliament froze wages at pre-plague levels and made it illegal for peasants to leave their manor without permission

Key Term: Serfdom --- the feudal system in which peasants (serfs or villeins) were bound to the land of their lord and required to work for him in return for a small plot to farm. They could not leave without permission.

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Causes of the Revolt

Cause	Detail
The Statute of Labourers (1351)	Peasants resented the law that froze their wages and restricted their movement
The Poll Tax	A new tax levied on every adult: 4d in 1377, 4d in 1379, and 12d (1 shilling) in 1380 --- three times the original rate. This was deeply unpopular, especially as it fell equally on rich and poor
Corrupt tax collectors	Heavy-handed collection methods caused fury; in May 1381, a tax collector in Essex was attacked
Serfdom	Many peasants wanted to be free from feudal obligations
The influence of John Ball	A radical preacher who argued that all men were equal before God: "When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?"
Weak government	King Richard II was only 14 years old; the government was run by unpopular advisors, including John of Gaunt and Simon Sudbury (Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor)

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The Course of the Revolt

June 1381

Date	Event
Late May	Tax collectors attacked in Essex; rebellion spreads
7 June	Wat Tyler emerges as the leader of the Kentish rebels
12 June	Rebels from Kent and Essex converge on London (up to 60,000 people)
13 June	Rebels enter London; burn John of Gaunt's Savoy Palace; storm the Tower of London
14 June	Richard II meets the rebels at Mile End; agrees to their demands (abolition of serfdom, fixed rent, free trade, pardons for all rebels)
14 June	Meanwhile, rebels execute Simon Sudbury (Archbishop of Canterbury) and Robert Hales (Lord Treasurer) at the Tower
15 June	Richard II meets Wat Tyler at Smithfield; Tyler is stabbed and killed by the Lord Mayor of London, William Walworth
15 June	Richard II rides towards the rebels and declares: "I am your king, I will be your leader." The rebels disperse

Exam Tip: The events at Smithfield are crucial. Richard II showed remarkable bravery and quick thinking for a 14-year-old. However, his promises were all broken. Understanding the gap between the promises made and the aftermath is key to evaluating the revolt's success.

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The Demands of the Rebels

Demand	Detail
Abolition of serfdom	All peasants to be free
Fixed rent of 4d per acre	Instead of unpaid labour services
Free trade	The right to buy and sell goods without restrictions
Pardons	No punishment for those involved in the revolt
Removal of unpopular ministers	Especially Sudbury and Hales

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The Aftermath

Richard II broke all of his promises once the rebels had dispersed.

Outcome	Detail
Promises revoked	Richard declared his promises had been made under duress and were void
Executions	Over 1,500 rebels were hunted down and executed, including John Ball
Poll Tax abandoned	The government never again tried to levy a flat-rate poll tax
Serfdom continued	It was not formally abolished, but it gradually declined over the following century
Wages	The Statute of Labourers became increasingly difficult to enforce; wages gradually rose

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The Significance of the Peasants' Revolt

Argument For Significance	Argument Against Significance
First mass uprising by ordinary people in English history	The revolt was crushed and its leaders executed
Showed that the common people could challenge authority	Richard II broke all his promises
The Poll Tax was never levied again	Serfdom was not abolished immediately
Contributed to the long-term decline of serfdom	It took decades for conditions to improve
Influenced later protest movements	The immediate impact was repression, not reform

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Key Figures

Person	Role
Wat Tyler	Leader of the Kentish rebels; killed at Smithfield
John Ball	Radical preacher who inspired the revolt with his egalitarian sermons
Richard II	14-year-old king who confronted the rebels at Mile End and Smithfield
Simon Sudbury	Archbishop of Canterbury, executed by the rebels
William Walworth	Lord Mayor of London who stabbed Wat Tyler

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Key Dates

Date	Event
1348--49	The Black Death kills one-third of England's population
1351	Statute of Labourers freezes wages
1377	First Poll Tax (4d per head)
1380	Third Poll Tax (12d per head)
June 1381	The Peasants' Revolt
15 June 1381	Wat Tyler killed at Smithfield

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Extended Worked Paragraph: Model Level 4/5 Answer

Question: "Has economic hardship been the main factor driving popular protest in Britain? Use your knowledge of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 as part of your answer."