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

  1. The Peasants' Revolt began in June 1381 when residents of a town in Essex refused to pay the poll tax.
  2. Wat Tyler, a low-born labourer from Essex, became the leader of the revolt.
  3. Rebels committed acts of violence against the king’s tax collectors and the king’s advisors.
  4. The Peasants' Revolt was a failure for the peasants but strengthened the position of Richard II.
  5. 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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which group of people had no wealth and no property rights in the feudal system?
lords
knights
townspeople
Correct answer: peasants
Q2.
In what year did the Black Death first reach England?
Correct Answer: 1348
Q3.
Which of Edward III's children died of the Black Death in 1348?
Edward the Black Prince
Correct answer: Joan
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 .
Correct Answer: Gaunt, Ghent, Lancaster
Q5.
The name of the conflict between 1337 and ended in 1453 was named the Years War.
Correct Answer: Hundred, 100
Q6.
What sort of tax did Richard II raise in 1377 to help pay for the war in France?
corporation tax
income tax
Correct answer: poll tax
property tax
windfall profit tax

6 Questions

Q1.
What was the job of John Bampton in 1381?
baker
cobbler
farmer
tanner
Correct answer: tax collector
Q2.
The leader of the Peasants' Revolt was Tyler.
Correct Answer: Wat
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
Correct answer: Robert de Hales
Correct answer: Simon Sudbury
Wat Tyler
Q4.
How old was Richard II at the time of the Peasants' Revolt?
10
Correct answer: 14
21
28
Q5.
Who is believed to have said to the rebels, "Peasants you are, and peasants you will remain"?
John of Gaunt
Correct answer: Richard II
Simon Sudbury
Sir William Walworth
Wat Tyler
Q6.
Put these events of the Peasants' Revolt in the order in which they occurred.
1 - Residents of Brentwood refused to pay their poll tax.
2 - Rebels destroyed the Savoy Palace in London.
3 - Richard II met the rebels at Smithfield.
4 - Most of the rebels followed Richard after Wat Tyler was stabbed.
5 - Richard went back on his promises to the rebels.

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