The Peasants Revolt

The Peasants Revolt was a culmination of different things, all happening at about the same time. England's peasants were poor and they were struggling to survive.

England Itself had been at war. Wars cost money so the King needed to raise some more. When running a country the only way to raise large sums of money quickly was to increase taxes. Why would this not be a good thing for the peasants?

Peasants became angry at this - as well as several other factors. We call these factors trends and triggers a trend is something that has been happening over a long period of time, a trigger is something that has just happened and spark anger or revolt.

Write these factors in your books (use page 75 of Medieval Minds to help you - organise them into trends and triggers)

The Peasants, so angry with what was happening to them marched on London determined to talk to the King. The King offered them this opportunity and met with them in what was to be the first of two meetings. In the second of these meetings Watt Tyler was killed and the King told his people that they could go home without fear of being prosecuted for their actions (as protests were illegal at the time). However, later when things had calmed down the King went back on his word and ordered that those people originally given amnesty (a free pardon against their crime) be punished. Many peasants were killed.

This is just a short very limited story of what happened. You will find out much more as you study the course.

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