The document summarizes the causes and events of the Peasants' Revolt in England in 1381. The key causes of the revolt were high taxes imposed to fund the war with France, poor treatment by landlords after the Black Death killed many peasants, the preaching of radical priest John Ball calling for wealth redistribution, and general discontent with the feudal system among peasants. Led by Wat Tyler, thousands of peasants marched on London demanding changes. Richard II met with them and Tyler was killed, after which Richard persuaded the peasants to return home, promising reforms. In the short term many peasants were executed, but over the long run the revolt contributed to the eventual abolition of serfdom in England.

1. Revolting
Or
Revolting?

2. Why Were the Peasants’ so
Revolting?
L.O:
1. Identify the causes of the Peasants’ Revolt
2. Explain how some causes are connected

3. Have you ever protested?
I have protested over…… because…….
What can you see happening in these images?

4. Today we are going to investigate
the Peasants’ Revolt. In 1381 the
Peasants’ rebelled. There were five
reasons why they rebelled.
Use the information on the following
slides to complete your worksheet.

5. Cause 1: The King
Richard II was only 14
years old.

6. Cause 2: War
England was at war
with France – and the
war was going badly!
The government
introduced a new tax
called the Poll Tax to
pay for the War.

7. Cause 3: Bad Lords
In 1348 – 51, the Black Death
killed many people. There were
not enough people left to work on
the land.
Some Lords tried to make their
Peasants work harder!

8. Cause 4: John Ball
John Ball was a poor
priest who did not like
the rich Lords. He said
the Lords should give
their money to the poor.

9. Cause 5: Hate
The Peasants hated being
Villeins. They hated being
poor and working for the
rich Lords. They hated the
Poll Tax and the War!

10. The Peasants’ Revolt
In 1381, 20 -30,000 peasants
rebelled. They asked Wat
Tyler to be their leader.
They went to London. They
asked the king to set them
free.
Richard II went to meet the
Peasants. There was a fight
and Wat Tyler was killed.
Richard II was brave, “I will
be your leader” he told the
peasants, “go home”. The
peasants went home.

11. Consequences of the Peasants’ Revolt:
Richard II put many peasants to death. “Villeins
you were and villeins you will stay” he told
them.
But the Lords saw things would have to change.
They set their villeins free – 50 years later their
were no villeins in England.

12. Questions:
1. Which do you think was the most
important cause of the Peasants’
Revolt? (explain your answer)
2. Use a full page and design a poster that
the Peasants might have carried in 1381.
3. Who won the Peasants’ Revolt? (give
reasons for your answers).
4. What were the immediate consequences
of the Peasants’ Revolt? (short term)
5. What were the long term consequences
of the Peasants’ Revolt?