3. Peasants Revolt Flashcards
How did disputes between landlords and villages cause the peasants revolt?
Many tensions between them
In 1278, all the tenants(villagers) claimed exemption from labour services and went to court and proved their case using the domesday book. They lost and had to carry out their federal duties for the lord of the manor
Some of them then broke into the Manor House
Some stole charters and burned records while others threatened to burn down the house and kill the prior
How did poor harvests cause the peasants revolt?
From 1315 - 1317, English harvests fell by over 50%
In 1319-1320 nearly half the sheep died in the country
Oxen were struck up by rinderpest and it became difficult to cultivate the land
Food prices went up and so did rent
The gap between the rich and poor increased
Through the first half of the 14thC there was floods and drought and famine
How did the Black Death cause the peasants revolt?
It arrived in Dorset 1348- 1349 and killed 50% of the population with some villages being wiped out completely
Others didn’t have enough men to work the land which forced the rich to lower rents and raise wages if they wanted to get workers
The villagers at Rudheath for example, refused to work for their lord until he reduced rents by at least one third.
Landlords retaliated by enclosing land and keep more sheep which were very profitable.
Many villagers ran away to towns or other manors where wages were better
How did laws that were passed cause the peasants revolt?
Parliament passed the Statue of Labourers in 1351 and said everyone under 60 had to work and wages were not to be higher than in 1437.
The sumptuary laws 1363 were also trying to control the clothes people wore and food they ate
What did the sumptuary laws state in 1363?
Yeomen’s wives were not allowed to wear silk veils
The wife or daughter of a labourer was not allowed to wear a girdle garnished with silver
Servants were not to eat meat or fish more than once a day
Why were these laws placed and how did villagers react?
Many people felt that villagers were getting too much/above their station
The Game laws were strengthened and punishments were tough end and poaching continued
In 1376, over 100 villagers requested copies of the domesday book in order to challenge the duties imposed on them by their lord
How did Wars cause the peasants revolts?
Wars with France were continuing and going badly
In 1377, a French fleet of over 120 ships attacked and burned the town of Rye in Sussex and invaded the isle of white
There were also many other raids on English coast
How did the King fund these wars?
He imposed taxes
Parliament usually called when the King needed to impose a tax on his people
In 1376, in return for agreeing a tax, the ‘Good” parliament charged several royal officials, accusing them of incompetence and corruption
What happened to Edward 111?
He was old and losing control of his country
He died in 1377 and was replaced by his 11 year old grandson, Richard 2nd
He was helped by his uncle, John of Gaunt (richest man in England)
What happened in 1377 when Richard became king?
The ‘Bad’ parliament agreed to the first Poll tax. This was at a flat rate of 4d per person - roughly two days wages for a labourer The commons (knights, merchants, traders e.t.c) reduced to increase the amount of tax they’d pay
What happened in 1379 with the Second Poll Tax?
It was to pay for another invasion of France
Instead of paying 4d each, they’d pay 4d per head (apart from earls who paid £4 each)
This was fairer, but still a disproportionate burden on the poor and caused a widespread opposition
At least 1/3 of taxpayers “disappeared” from the tax list
What did the 3rd Poll tax charge? 1381
It charged a flat rate of 1s 4d (two weeks wages for a labourer) per person
How did the peasants revolt start?
On 30 May 1381, John Bampton (the King’s tax collector for Essex) arrived with two sergeants at Brentwood to collect unpaid Poll Taxes.
One of the villagers, Thomas baker, said his village had already paid all their taxes in full and would pay no more
Bampton tried to arrest Baker but the villagers resisted and the tax collectors started to flee
How did this affect everyone around the country?
Word of the protest spread quickly around Essex and more refused to pay the Poll Tax.
Armed men banded together for protection and safety
They set off together to London, reaching Aldgate on 13th June
What did the people of Kent start to do?
They headed to Maidstone prison, and freed prisoners including John Ball who was a priest in York and preached everyone should be equal. He preached to the rebels on 13th June and provided inspiration and leadership
