1. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Glossary Trend – something that had been going on for a long time. Trigger- things that suddenly make an event happen. Who’s Who? John Ball – a priest who was popular with the peasants. He taught that God did not intend that because you were born a peasant, you had to stay poor, or that the lords were any better than the peasants. Simon Sudbury – the Archbishop of Canterbury. He had John Ball imprisoned because of his ideas were stirring up trouble. King Richard III – a boy of 10. The peasants felt that he was being badly advised by his uncle, John of Gaunt and by Simon Sudbury. Wat Tyler – an ex-soldier and leader of the Men of Kent. Men of Essex and Men of Kent – the two peasant armies that marched on London.

2. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step One – Trends and Triggers Fifty years of war against France: was a cause because of the huge cost. Recently the war had been going badly, so people were not getting value for the money spent and they were worried about a possible invasion by the French. In 1381 there were huge tax rises. In Essex villagers killed tax collector. The Black Death had led to a steady increase in wages for the peasants: Peasants had begun to expect a better life. Peasants began to question their position in society (should they really be poor). Peasants were angry about the Statute of Labourers (should work for low wages). The Black Death had enabled some peasants to buy their freedom from the Lord: but not every peasant was free. John Ball was telling the peasants that they were as god as the lords. He was imprisoned by Simon Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

3. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Decide which of the causes are trends and which are triggers. Mark your list accordingly. Trend – something that had been going on for a long time. Trigger- things that suddenly make an event happen.

4. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step One – Trends and Triggers Fifty years of war against France: was a cause because of the huge cost. (TREND) Recently the war had been going badly, so people were not getting value for the money spent and they were worried about a possible invasion by the French. (TRIGGER) In 1381 there were huge tax rises. (TRIGGER) In Essex villagers killed tax collector. (TRIGGER) The Black Death had led to a steady increase in wages for the peasants: (TREND) Peasants had begun to expect a better life. Peasants began to question their position in society (should they really be poor). Peasants were angry about the Statute of Labourers (should work for low wages). The Black Death had enabled some peasants to buy their freedom from the Lord: but not every peasant was free. (TREND) John Ball was telling the peasants that they were as god as the lords. He was imprisoned by Simon Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury. (TRIGGER)

5. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step One – Trends and Triggers Now write up the first paragraph of your story. The peasants revolt had trends and triggers. The trends were causes that had been there for a long time. The triggers were the events that made it begin in 1381. Many of the trends were results of the Black Death. Explain about how each of the trends was a cause: How the Black Death cased a labour shortage that meant the peasants had got more money and the Statute of Labourers. How this had led to many of them expecting a better standard of living and how some had become free. How and why some of them had begun to question their place in society. The triggers were events that turned resentments into open revolt. Explain about how each of the triggers was a cause: The cost of the war against France and the increase in taxes. Richard II and his advisors. The imprisonment of John Ball. The death of the tax collectors.

6. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Two – Threats and violence Begin by making a list of who the peasants attacked. May 1381, Essex peasants attacked a poll tax collector. Three judge’s clerks were beheaded in Essex. Kent peasants attack monks in local abbeys. Kent rebels attack and capture Rochester Castle. Rebels enter London and smash and burn the houses of the king’s advisers. Mobs of rebels burn the houses of lawyers and foreign traders in London. Simon Subdury has his head hacked off by a group of rebels.

7. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Two – Threats and violence Study the list of who the peasants attacked: poll tax collector, judge’s clerks, monks, Rochester Castle, king’s advisers, lawyers and foreign traders, Simon Subdury. They were all hated by the peasants because they were a threat to them. Some of them were authority figures who were trying to keep the peasants poor and subservient. Monks, King’s advisors, Simon Sudbury. Some were people who had taken advantage of the peasants, through taxation or by writing unfair laws. Some had advised the king wrongly. Some were dangerous because they were foreigners. Fill in some examples next to each group on this list.

8. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Two – Threats and violence Now write up the second part of your story. The peasants were angry and violent because of the way they had been treated and because they felt that the king had been badly advised. Now explain about who had treated the peasants badly and what the peasants did to them. Include: authority figures who were trying to keep the peasants poor and subservient. people who had taken advantage of the peasants people who had advised the king wrongly. Then explain about people who the peasants thought had advised the king badly. Include: The archbishop of Canterbury, John of Gaunt and lawyers in this section. Finally explain why foreign merchants were attacked.

9. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Three – Death and defeat Chronicle 1 What Wat Tyler did ~ approached the …., dismounted and …. ~ swore and said …. ~ sent for a jug of water and …. What the Mayor did ~ stopped Tyler from …. ~ drew his dagger and …. What the King’s man did ~ called out the Tyler was ….

10. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Three – Death and defeat Chronicle 2 What Wat Tyler did ~ did not show ……… respect to …. ~ spoke strong …. (swore) ~ had his head ……….. ~ had a threatening look on his …. ~ tried to stab the …. What the Mayor did ~ tried to ….. the tiler ~ wounded Tyler with his …. What the King’s man did ~ grabbed Tyler’s head and ….

11. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Three – Death and defeat Chronicle 3 What Wat Tyler did ~ failed to uncover his ……. When he met the …. ~ spoke badly to the ….. ~ told the Mayor he was a ….. What the Mayor did ~ ordered Tyler to take off his …. ~ he was the second person to stab Tyler with a …. What the King’s man did ~ he was the first person to ….

12. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Three – Death and defeat Chronicle 4 What Wat Tyler did ~ drew close to the …. ~ threw his ……. from hand to hand (threatening behaviour) ~ spoke …………. to the king What the Mayor did ~ knocked Tyler into the …. with his ….. What the King’s man did ~ pierced Tyler’s side with a …..

13. How did the peasants get out of control? Broadwater School History Department Step Three – Threats and violence Now write up the third part of your story. The revolt ended when Wat Tyler, the leader of the men of Kent was killed during a meeting with the king. Contemporary sources give a clear picture of why Tyler was killed. What is less clear, is was actually responsible and how it was done. Now explain about where the peasants met the king and who was there. Then explain about what Wat Tyler did that led to his death. Remember that the Chronicles were not written by the peasants. Think about the real reason why Tyler was killed. Explain about what the mayor did. The Chronicles differ about the part that the mayor played in Tyler’s death. Explain about the different stories. Are you able to explain the differences? Would anyone have stood to gain by taking the credit for killing Wat Tyler? Finally explain what happened after Wat Tyler was killed.