Causes of the Peasants' Revolt

Question 1

What year was the Peasants’ Revolt? (1)

Answer 1

• 1381

Question 2

What was the Feudal System? (3)

Answer 2

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

Question 3

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

Answer 3

• 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.

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What were Freemen? (2)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What were serfs? (5)

Answer 6

• 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.

Question 7

What was commutation? (3)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

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

Answer 8

• 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.

Question 9

What were compulsory labour services? (2)

Answer 9

• 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.

Question 10

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

Answer 10

• 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.

Question 11

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

Answer 11

• 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.

Question 12

What was the Statute of Labourers? (3)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

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

Answer 13

1351

Question 14

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

Answer 14

They were angry.

Question 15

What was the Poll Tax? (2)

Answer 15

• 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.

Question 16

When were the Poll Taxes introduced? (2)

Answer 16

• 1377-1380, growing yearly.

Question 17

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

Answer 17

• They were angry

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

• Forced collectivisation of their crops

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

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Richard II (14 years old)

Question 20

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

Answer 20

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

Question 21

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

Answer 21

• Sir Robert Hales.

- blamed for financial mismanagement.

Question 22

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

Answer 22

• William Walworth.

- used soldiers in London to control people by force.

Question 23

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

Answer 23

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

Question 24

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

Answer 24

• 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

Question 25

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

Answer 25

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

Question 26

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

Answer 26

• 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.

Question 27

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

Answer 27

• 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.

Question 28

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

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Wat Tyler, John Ball, Jack Straw and Johanna Ferrour

Question 30

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

Answer 30

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

• Norman Conquest
• The Black Death
• Hundred Years War
• Key figures