The causes of the Peasants' Revolt
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why historians have different interpretations about the causes of the Peasants’ Revolt.
Key learning points
- Some historians argue that the Peasants’ Revolt was caused by class conflict between the lords and the peasants.
- Evidence for class conflict includes the burning of court rolls by rebels, which recorded their feudal obligations.
- Other historians argue that class conflict over feudalism was not the cause as feudalism was already in decline.
- Instead these historians argue that the Peasants' Revolt was against taxation and growing government power.
Keywords
Class conflict - tensions between different groups (e.g. workers and employers) over who has power
Court rolls - records kept by a lord of payments made to them by their tenants
Feudalism - another term for the feudal system: the system of landholding which bound peasants to a lord in return for land to farm
Interpretation - a particular explanation of something
Common misconception
That the main aim of the rebels in the Peasants' Revolt was to overthrow the king.
In fact the rebels' grievances were against local officials and the king's advisers, who they believed were misleading the king into acting against the interests of his people.
Teacher tip
This unit provides a good opportunity to reinforce pupils' secure understanding of the meaning of interpretations in history, and the difference between interpretations and sources.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Put these events that lead up to the Peasants' Revolt in chronological order.
Q2.Who emerged as the leader of the Peasants' Revolt?
Q3.Where did the king go for safety when the rebels entered London in June 1381?
Q4.What demands did Wat Tyler make of the king when they met at Smithfield?
Q5.What happened to Wat Tyler at Smithfield?
Q6.Historians who believe history is driven by class conflict see the Peasants' Revolt as which of the following?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words with their correct definitions.
Q2.Which of the following was a short-term cause of the Peasants' Revolt, rather than a long-term cause?
Q3.Historian Rodney Hilton considers court rolls as evidence of class conflict in the Peasants' Revolt because...
Q4.The Peasants' Revolt was strongest in which of these regions of England?
Q5.Which of the following would historian Mark Bailey see as the most likely cause of the Peasants' Revolt?
Q6.Which of the following best represents the view of Mark Bailey about the importance of the Black Death in ending the feudal system in England?
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: The causes of the Peasants' Revolt, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: The causes of the Peasants' Revolt, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Peasants' Revolt: why do historians disagree about its causes? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.