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Historical Events in the United Kingdom

Peasants’ Revolt (1381)

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was one of the first major popular uprisings in English history, and it shook the…

By Staff , in Historical Events in the United Kingdom , at May 29, 2025 Tags:
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The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was one of the first major popular uprisings in English history, and it shook the foundations of medieval society.

Context: First, the Black Death (1348–1350) had wiped out a huge portion of England’s population, which oddly gave surviving peasants more economic power. But instead of letting wages rise naturally, the government passed laws like the Statute of Labourers (1351) to freeze wages and restrict workers’ mobility—basically trying to hold on to the old feudal order. Additionally, there were repeated taxes to fund England’s military campaigns in the Hundred Years’ War, including a deeply unpopular poll tax—a flat tax that hit the poor especially hard.

Tensions exploded in June 1381, starting in Essex and Kent. Thousands of peasants, artisans, and townsfolk began marching toward London. They demanded the end of serfdom, fair wages, abolition of feudal dues, and punishment for corrupt officials. Their leaders included Wat Tyler, who became the face of the movement, and John Ball, a radical preacher who challenged the status quo with lines like “When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?”

When they reached London, the rebels stormed the Tower of London, executed some hated officials (like the Archbishop of Canterbury), and forced King Richard II, who was only 14 at the time, to meet them. He promised reforms—but after Tyler was killed during a second meeting, Richard turned on the rebels. The uprising was crushed brutally, with many leaders executed.

In the short term, the revolt failed—the promises were revoked, and the old order remained. But long term, it scared the ruling class. They became more cautious, and serfdom started to decline gradually over the next century. So while the peasants didn’t get what they wanted right away, their revolt was a crucial early chapter in the fight for social justice and change in England.

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