New
New
Year 7
The Peasants' Revolt
I can explain different causes of the Peasants' Revolt.
New
New
Year 7
The Peasants' Revolt
I can explain different causes of the Peasants' Revolt.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Peasants' Revolt began in June 1381 when residents of a town in Essex refused to pay the poll tax.
- Wat Tyler, a low-born labourer from Essex, became the leader of the revolt.
- Rebels committed acts of violence against the king’s tax collectors and the king’s advisors.
- The Peasants' Revolt was a failure for the peasants but strengthened the position of Richard II.
- Historians do not agree on the causes of the Peasants' Revolt.
Keywords
Revolt - violent action against a government or ruler
Poll tax - a payment made to the government by every adult, regardless of how wealthy they are
Serf - a peasant bound to work on a certain piece of land
Common misconception
Revolts and rebellions are driven purely by rage and frustration.
Most revolts and rebellions have a number of causes and are usually led by people with a plan and aims to achieve.
Pupils could explore the images relating to the Peasants' Revolt from Froissart's Chronicles and see if they can identify familiar characters from the events they have studied in these illustrations.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which group of people had no wealth and no property rights in the feudal system?
lords
knights
townspeople
Q2.
In what year did the Black Death first reach England?
Q3.
Which of Edward III's children died of the Black Death in 1348?
Edward the Black Prince
John of Gaunt
Mary of Windsor
Q4.
Richard II was only 10 when he became king, and he was largely controlled by his wealthy and unpopular uncle, John of .
Q5.
The name of the conflict between 1337 and ended in 1453 was named the Years War.
Q6.
What sort of tax did Richard II raise in 1377 to help pay for the war in France?
corporation tax
income tax
property tax
windfall profit tax
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What was the job of John Bampton in 1381?
baker
cobbler
farmer
tanner
Q2.
The leader of the Peasants' Revolt was Tyler.
Q3.
Who were beheaded by the rebels, who believed that they had given the king bad advice? This happened on 13th June 1381, in London.
John Bampton
John of Gaunt
Wat Tyler
Q4.
How old was Richard II at the time of the Peasants' Revolt?
10
21
28
Q5.
Who is believed to have said to the rebels, "Peasants you are, and peasants you will remain"?
John of Gaunt
Simon Sudbury
Sir William Walworth
Wat Tyler
Q6.
Put these events of the Peasants' Revolt in the order in which they occurred.
Additional material
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