Causes of the Peasants' Revolt Flashcards

1
Q

What year was the Peasants’ Revolt? (1)

A
  • 1381
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2
Q

What was the Feudal System? (3)

A
  • A hierarchy of society (1) from the King to the peasantry (1), based around land (1)
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3
Q

What was the structure of the Feudal System and what did each ‘layer’ give each other? (3)

A
  • Kings gave land to barons who gave loyalty and provided soldiers in return.
  • Barons gave land to the knights who promised to fight and to be loyal in return.
  • Knights gave pieces of land and protection to the peasants who worked the crops and fought when needed in return.
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4
Q

How many people were in each ‘layer’ of the Feudal System? (4)

A
  • 1 King
  • 200 Barons
  • 5,000 Knights
  • 1.5 million Peasants.
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5
Q

What were Freemen? (2)

A
  • Peasants not owing labour service (1) and free to move to other villages. (1)
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6
Q

What were serfs? (5)

A
  • These peasants provided some free labour to their Lord/Baron/knight.
  • Could not marry.
  • Could not leave the Manor without permission.
  • Had to pay to use the Lord’s mill for grinding flour.
  • Were subject to the Lord’s Manorial Court.
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7
Q

What was commutation? (3)

A

From about 1200 (1), peasants were able to offer monetary rent (1) instead of labour service. (1)

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8
Q

What was life generally like for a peasant? (5)

A
  • Peasant life was generally harsh in the Middle Ages.
  • They lived in poor conditions, often one room and with animals.
  • They were at the mercy of their lords.
  • They were at the mercy of the weather.
  • Local revolts were quite frequent.
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9
Q

What were compulsory labour services? (2)

A
  • When peasants worked a few days a week on their Lord’s land for no wages.
  • This was different to the land they were able to live off.
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10
Q

Why didn’t the peasants revolt before 1381? (3)

A
  • Lack of organisation.
  • A feeling that things simply could not be better.
  • Blind acceptance of the Church’s teaching that rebellion was the worst of all sins.
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11
Q

How did the Black Death ‘enlighten’ peasants? (5)

A
  • The Black Death created huge labour shortages
  • Peasants became more valuable as there was less of them, and they realised this
  • Lords tried to force peasants to return to compulsory labour services, but peasants picked the land they worked on.
  • Lords were forced to offer high wages to get their land farmed at all.
  • Wages trebled in a few years.
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12
Q

What was the Statute of Labourers? (3)

A

Parliament, which of course did not represent the peasants (1), passed the Statute of Labourers (1) designed to enforce wage cuts by law. (1)

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13
Q

When was the Statute of Labourers brought in? (1)

A

1351

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14
Q

How did peasants react to the Statute of Labourers? (1)

A

They were angry.

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15
Q

What was the Poll Tax? (2)

A
  • Edward III originally introduced this tax in order to fund his war with France (100 Years War)
  • Everyone, rich or poor, had to pay the same amount.
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16
Q

When were the Poll Taxes introduced? (2)

A
  • 1377-1380, growing yearly.
17
Q

How did peasants react to the Poll Tax and why? (2)

A
  • They were angry

- The fact that they had to pay the same tax as the rich was grotesque.

18
Q

Why else did the 100 Years War make peasants angry? (2)

A
  • Forced collectivisation of their crops

- Peasants were often used as ‘pawns’ in war, and ‘cannon fodder’ (basically sent into battle to die)

19
Q

Who was King at the time of the revolt and how old was he? (2)

A

Richard II (14 years old)

20
Q

Who was the Archbishop of Canterbury & chancellor and why was he disliked? (3)

A
  • Simon of Sudbury.
  • Leader of the Church at a time when it was unpopular.
  • Instigator of the Poll Tax.
21
Q

Who was the treasurer and why was he disliked? (2)

A
  • Sir Robert Hales.

- blamed for financial mismanagement.

22
Q

Who was the Lord Mayor of London and why was he disliked? (2)

A
  • William Walworth.

- used soldiers in London to control people by force.

23
Q

Who was the King’s uncle and Lord Protector and why was he disliked? (3)

A
  • John of Gaunt
  • suspected of wanting to overthrow the King
  • blamed for the unsuccessful war against France
24
Q

Why were commissioners sent out to towns & villages? (3)

A
  • Tax collectors came across blatant widespread evasion
  • People sometimes ran into forests when they heard that the tax men were on their way
  • Because of the deaths and huge shortfall the government, sent out commissioners to make sure the evaders paid up with powers of arrest if anyone refused
25
Q

Who was Thomas de Bampton why was he disliked? (3)

A
  • Commissioner who threatened villagers in Fobbing, Essex.
  • The peasants rose up against him.
  • This is widely seen as the spark for the revolt.
26
Q

Why was the Black Death a cause of the revolt? (3)

A
  • The reduced labour workforce showed the peasants they were worth more than they thought
  • People lost faith in the Church that they believe didn’t protect them
  • People therefore ignored the Church’s warnings on rebellion, which was said to be a sin.
27
Q

Why was the Church not liked at this time? (4)

A
  • It was discredited due to the Black Death
  • Its leaders were wealthy and often acted as especially severe landlords.
  • At harvest a tithe (10%) of all goods had to be given to the Church.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury was the instigator of the Poll Tax.
28
Q

Did the people trust the king at the start of the rebellion? (2)

A

Yes they did as they believed that God had placed him in that position.

29
Q

Who were the main leaders of the revolt? (4)

A

Wat Tyler, John Ball, Jack Straw and Johanna Ferrour

30
Q

What was a famous quote that John Ball said at this time? (2)

A

‘When Adam delved and Eve span who then was the gentleman?’

31
Q

What were the main four causes of the Peasants Revolt? (4)

A
  • Norman Conquest
  • The Black Death
  • Hundred Years War
  • Key personalities