Peasants’ Revolt

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Peasants’ Revolt

English history

Also known as: Wat Tyler’s Rebellion

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 14, 2024 • Article History

Peasants' Revolt

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Category: History & Society

Also called:: Wat Tyler’s Rebellion

Date:: 1381

Location:: United Kingdom; England

Participants:: peasant; proletariat

Key People:: John Ball; Richard II; Simon Of Sudbury; Wat Tyler

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Peasants’ Revolt, (1381), first great popular rebellion in English history. Its immediate cause was the imposition of the unpopular poll tax of 1380, which brought to a head the economic discontent that had been growing since the middle of the century. The rebellion drew support from several sources and included well-to-do artisans and villeins as well as the destitute. Probably the main grievance of the agricultural labourers and urban working classes was the Statute of Labourers (1351), which attempted to fix maximum wages during the labour shortage following the Black Death. The uprising was centred in the southeastern counties and ...(100 of 400 words)

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