The Peasants' Revolt 01

Test your History skills in this KS3 quiz on the Peasants' Revolt. The Peasants' Revolt is also sometimes known as Wat Tyler's Rebellion. He didn't organise it but became the leader during the troubles. He probably wished that he hadn't, as he was killed during the negotiations with the Lord Mayor of London and the King. The Peasants' Revolt was not only the most extreme and widespread insurrection in English history but also the best-documented popular rebellion ever to have occurred during medieval times.

There were several causes of the Revolt. Europe had suffered the Black Death and about a third of the population had been wiped out. There was therefore a labour shortage and the landowners (barons and the Roman Catholic Church) feared that the peasants would ask for higher wages. A law (The Statute of Labourers of 1351) was passed to prevent this and life was therefore made much harder for the peasants, whose income came from working the land. When Edward III died, his successor was Richard II, who was only 10 years old. The country was therefore run by the barons who took advantage of the situation.