The Peasants’ Revolt 1381

The section explores the causes and aftermath of the Peasant’s Revolt. The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was a major uprising against the authority of King Richard II and the social hierarchy in England. It occurred during Richard's reign, which began when he was only ten years old, and was led by peasants and workers who were suffering under economic hardship, heavy taxes, and the wealth of the Church. For a short time, it appeared that the peasants had managed to overturn the feudal system and force the king to comply with their demands. However, Richard II ultimately reneged on his promises, and the revolt ended in violent reprisals. Despite this, the revolt had long-term effects, influencing future generations of working people who sought better treatment and fairer conditions.

Causes of the Peasants’ Revolt

The Peasants’ Revolt had several significant causes, stemming from both economic and social pressures that built up over decades:

The Black Death (1348-1349)

• The Black Death, which struck England in 1348, killed between a third and half of the population, decimating the peasant workforce.
• As a result, there were fewer workers to tend the land, and those who survived found they could demand higher wages or better working conditions.
• The nobility, fearing for their wealth and control over the peasants, passed laws like the Statute of Labourers (1351), which attempted to freeze wages at pre-plague levels and restrict workers' freedom of movement.
• This legislation angered the peasants, many of whom refused to work under the old conditions, leading to tensions between the common people and the landowners.

New Taxes

• In 1377, Richard II ascended the throne at the age of ten. The new king was heavily reliant on his advisors and often manipulated by the nobility.
• To fund the ongoing wars with France, the crown introduced poll taxes—a tax on every adult, regardless of their income.
• Between 1377 and 1381, three successive poll taxes were imposed, with the total tax burden rising by 75%. This placed a significant strain on the peasantry and worsened their economic situation.
• The burden of these taxes was felt most keenly by the poorer peasants, who were already struggling with the aftermath of the Black Death.

The Wealth of the Church

• At the same time, many peasants faced poverty and even starvation, while the Church was enormously wealthy.
• The Church charged people to pardon their sins and for other services, angering many, including some priests.
• John Ball, a radical preacher, began to speak out against the wealth of the Church and the nobility, calling for social reform. His sermons were inflammatory and led to his arrest by the king's orders.

Events of the Peasants’ Revolt

The revolt began in Essex and Kent but quickly spread across southern England. Key events included:

• 30 May 1381: The revolt was sparked when John Bampton, a royal tax collector, arrived in Brentwood, Essex. He was confronted by a peasant named Thomas Baker, who refused to pay the poll tax, claiming they had already paid. When Bampton attempted to arrest Baker, the villagers rose up in his defence. The tax collectors fled, and the villagers destroyed Bampton’s clerks and attacked the homes of his supporters.
• 7 June 1381: The rebels began to assemble in Maidstone, Kent. Here, they appointed Wat Tyler as their leader and freed John Ball from his prison cell. The peasants also attacked Rochester Castle and burned the government tax records.
• 13 June 1381: Thousands of rebels from Essex and Kent marched to London. They stormed the capital, freeing prisoners from the jails, burning down the Savoy Palace (owned by the King’s uncle), and making their way towards the Tower of London.
• 14 June 1381: King Richard II agreed to meet with the rebels at Mile End. The peasants presented their demands, including the abolition of serfdom and the end of the poll tax. Richard agreed to pardon all rebels and to grant peasants freedom, but asked for their return to their villages.
• 15 June 1381: The following day, Richard met Wat Tyler and the rebel leaders at Smithfield. Tyler made further demands, including the redistribution of Church lands to the common people. In the ensuing confrontation, Tyler was killed by the King’s men. Despite Tyler’s death, Richard spoke to the crowd and managed to calm them. He led them out of London, and the revolt effectively came to an end.

Impacts of the Peasants’ Revolt

Short-term Effects

• Despite Richard II’s promises to the rebels, the king quickly regained control and took revenge on those who had challenged him.
• An army was sent to round up and punish the rebels. It is estimated that between 1,500 and 7,000 people were killed during the reprisals.
• However, the poll tax was not reintroduced, and wages for peasants began to rise. Attempts by the authorities to restrict wages were largely unsuccessful.
• Many peasants were able to buy land left unused after the Black Death, gradually freeing themselves from the control of the local lords. This laid the foundations for greater social mobility in the years to come.

Long-term Effects

• While the revolt was brutally suppressed, it marked a significant turning point in English social history. It was the first time that the peasants, the poorest and most powerless group in society, had risen up in such a large and organised way to challenge the monarch and the feudal system.
• The revolt inspired future generations of working people to demand better conditions and fairer treatment. In particular:
  • The Levellers in the 16th century and socialists in the 19th century invoked the ideas of the revolt in their campaigns for equality and workers' rights.
  • In 1989, protesters against the Community Charge (poll tax) in London followed the same route as the peasants of 1381, using the term "poll tax" to refer to the new tax they were protesting.

The Peasants’ Revolt was an important precursor to the eventual breakdown of the feudal system and the development of a more egalitarian society. Although it did not immediately achieve all its aims, the revolt planted the seeds for later social and political movements.