The Peasants Revolt 1381
The Peasants' Revolt, also known as Wat Tyler's Rebellion, was the first major popular revolt in English history, taking place in 1381, and referred to as the peasant revolt in 1381. The imposition of the unpopular poll tax in 1380 was the primary reason, coming to a head of the economic discontent that had been rising since the middle of the century. The peasants’ rebellion was supported by a diverse group of individuals, including well-to-do artisans, villains, and the destitute.
The Statute of Labourers (1351) attempted to fix maximum wages during the labour shortage following the Black Death, which was probably the main grievance of agricultural labourers and urban working classes.
In detail, let us study the history of the peasants’ revolts, and the causes, and facts:
History of the Peasants Revolts
Causes of the Revolt
The Peasants Revolts of June 1381 (peasants revolt 1381) was the most famous popular uprising of the Middle Ages, and it was caused by simmering discontent in England that began in the middle of Edward III's time as king (1327-1377) and peaked in 1348 with the coming of the Black Death plague. When widespread discontent boiled over into all-out or peasant rebellion, Edward's successor, Richard II of England, had to deal with the chaos.
The following were the main causes of the Peasants' Revolts:
A new poll tax is levied on all peasants, regardless of wealth (the third tax since 1377).
The law imposed the wage limit after labour costs rose due to the Black Death plague.
Unscrupulous landowners are trying to classify free labourers as serfs (also known as villeins) to save money on wages.
A general feeling of exploitation by local authorities during a period of economic decline
The poll tax of three groats (equal to a couple of days' labour) was levied on anyone over the age of 15 (only beggars were exempt), and it was imposed irrespective of a person's ability to pay it. To make matters worse, this third poll tax was three times as high as the previous two.
Edward III had placed 27 taxes on the peasantry during his reign, mainly to pay for his hugely expensive military campaigns against the French during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). Similarly, Richard required money to continue the war with France, whose pirate ships were common in the English Channel, but the public had had enough. There were other problems as well.
Following a labour shortage following the Black Death in 1348, the labour cost had risen dramatically, enabling many serfs to charge for their labour. Edward III had enacted laws restricting how much a labourer could earn per day, and those who violated were exposed to severe punishments. Many landlords attempted to avoid the problem by turning their labourers into serfs, thereby saving money on their wages.
The idea that one was not born into a life of servitude to another was difficult to disprove. People were well aware that large landowners, lawyers, and officials were conspiring to keep the poor in their place while benefiting themselves. There was even a rhyme that expressed commoners' discontent with not being treated equally to landowners:
As a result, Christian beliefs were used to support the idea that all men were equal or deserved to be treated with respect at the very least. On the other hand, many of society's ills were placed on the church Building as an institution. Many commoners believed that church officials and organisations, especially the major abbeys, had not been accommodating when the Black Death came. They were just as harsh as any other landowner regarding collecting their duties and tithes.
Because the Black Death killed between 30 and 50 per cent of the population in the areas it struck, some peasants could buy their own small plots of land to farm as land prices fell and there were not enough people to labour it. Yeomen was the name given to these landed peasants. Furthermore, the sharp decline in population severely impacted small businesses and artisans, as their clients were left. These trends may explain why the revolution began in the better-off parts of the kingdom - East Anglia and Kent - and why it was not limited to the countryside.
Consequences of the Revolt
Richard was so ruthless that he ensured that around 150 of the rebels were hanged, which required building new gibbets. The head of Wat Tyler was displayed on London Bridge. Following that, there were a few brief peasant rebellion outbreaks, but they were violently repressed, and its ringleaders were executed as traitors. ‘Villeins ye are, and villeins ye shall remain,' said the king. The whole thing was perhaps the peak of Richard's reign, as things went downhill from there, with the once-admired young king turning to be a major disappointment and concluding his days with brief imprisonment and mysterious death.
However, as had already been seen before the revolt, social changes happened in England. The poll tax was removed, wage limits were not strictly enforced, and serfs continued to purchase their freedom. Significantly, the law and legal records were now used by landowners to show labourers had legitimately bought their freedom and could pass their land on to their descendants rather than enforce a labour commitment.
This is about the peasants’ revolts, and history causes facts and significance in detail. Students can find helpful information from the official website of Vedantu and gain more information and knowledge.
Result
Let us discuss the Result of the Peasants Revolt 1381.
The peasants were crushed on the surface, their demands were denied, and many were executed. On the other hand, the landowners were scared, and several things were accomplished in the long run.
Parliament gave up trying to regulate the wages paid to peasants by landowners.
The hated poll tax was never revived.
The peasants were treated with far more respect by the Lords. They made more of them free men or people who were not owned by the land. In the end, this was beneficial because free men are always more creative.
This meant the end of the feudal system, which had suited the early Middle Ages well but was becoming outdated as attitudes started to shift.
Conclusion
Thus, we have learned about the peasant revolt of 1381, considered one of the first popular revolts in English history. The non-acceptable statutes and rules and the exploitation and impact of the black death led the peasants to revolt against the authorities. Because of this revolt, unwanted and unacceptable taxes were removed, leading to the end of the feudal system.
FAQs on Peasants Revolts
1. What exactly is a peasant revolt?
A peasant revolt is an uprising by farmers or agricultural labourers, usually against powerful landowners, tax collectors, or the government. These revolts are typically a reaction to severe economic hardship, such as high taxes, crippling debt, or unfair land laws. They represent a collective protest by the rural population against exploitation and to demand better conditions.
2. What were the main causes of the famous English Peasants' Revolt of 1381?
The 1381 revolt was caused by a combination of long-term issues and an immediate trigger. The main factors were:
- The Black Death: This plague led to a labour shortage. When peasants demanded better wages, the government passed laws to keep wages low, causing widespread anger.
- High Taxes: England's long and expensive war with France was funded by heavy taxes, including a deeply unpopular poll tax that was the final trigger for the revolt.
- The Feudal System: Peasants had very few rights and were bound to the land and their lords, leading to deep-seated resentment against the ruling class.
3. Can you give some examples of major peasant revolts in India?
Yes, India has a long history of significant peasant movements, particularly during the British colonial era. Some key examples include:
- The Indigo Revolt (1859): Farmers in Bengal protested against being forced by European planters to grow indigo instead of more profitable food crops.
- The Deccan Riots (1875): In the Deccan region, peasants rose up against the oppressive practices of local moneylenders and the high land revenue demands of the British government.
- The Pabna Agrarian Movement (1870s): This was a largely non-violent movement by peasants in Bengal to resist the rent-enhancing efforts of the zamindars (landlords).
4. How did a peasant revolt usually end?
Historically, most large-scale peasant revolts were crushed with military force by the state or landlords. The leaders were often captured and executed as a warning to others. Despite this, these uprisings were not always complete failures. They often exposed deep social problems and could sometimes lead to gradual reforms or a change in oppressive policies, even if the immediate goals of the rebels were not met.
5. Why did peasants risk their lives to revolt, even when the chances of success were low?
Peasants often revolted out of sheer desperation when their living conditions became intolerable. It was less a calculated bid for power and more a final stand against losing their land, dignity, and ability to survive. These movements were often fuelled by a powerful sense of injustice. When faced with starvation, crushing debt, or brutal exploitation, a revolt—no matter how risky—could feel like the only honourable option left.
6. What is the main difference between a peasant revolt and a regular war?
The primary difference lies in the participants and their objectives. A war is typically fought between the organised, professional armies of two or more states. In contrast, a peasant revolt is an internal uprising of the common agricultural population against its own rulers or landlords. While a war is often about political control or territory, a peasant revolt is fundamentally about fighting for social justice and economic rights.
7. How were the causes of Indian peasant revolts under British rule different from those in medieval Europe?
While all peasant revolts stem from exploitation, the specific context was different. Medieval European revolts, like the 1381 uprising, were often reactions against the traditional feudal system and royal taxes. In contrast, Indian peasant revolts during the colonial era were a direct response to British economic policies. These included new land revenue systems that trapped farmers in debt, the forced cultivation of cash crops for British industries, and the destruction of local handicrafts, which overburdened agriculture.
