Lesson: The Peasants' Revolt (1381)
Year: 7 | Subject: History | Time Allocation: 100%
Class/Set: ____________ Date/Term: ____________
LO (WALT): To explain the short-term and long-term causes of the Peasants' Revolt.
Success Criteria (WILF):
- I can identify the economic and social impacts of the Black Death on the feudal system.
- I can describe the immediate trigger of the 1381 Poll Tax.
- I can categorise the causes of the revolt into 'Social', 'Economic', and 'Political' factors.
1. Starter (15%)
- Retrieve: Project a diagram of the 'Feudal System' on the board. Students must label the four tiers (King, Barons, Knights, Peasants) in their exercise books.
- Inquire: Display the prompt: "The year is 1350. Half your village has died from the Black Death. There is a shortage of workers. How do you feel about your workload and your pay?"
- Discuss: Facilitate a brief 'Think-Pair-Share' regarding how a labour shortage might give peasants more 'bargaining power' against their lords.
2. Main Activity (70%)
Teacher Input:
- Explain: Use a timeline to show the gap between the Black Death (1348) and the Revolt (1381). Define the 'Statute of Labourers' (1351) as the law that tried to stop wages from rising.
- Model: Introduce the 'Poll Tax'. Explain that this was a 'flat rate' tax – the poorest peasant paid the same as the wealthiest merchant (one groat).
- Demonstrate: On the whiteboard, draw a table with three columns: Social, Economic, and Political. Place 'The Poll Tax' into the 'Economic' column as an example.
- Narrate: Briefly describe the roles of Wat Tyler (the leader), John Ball (the radical priest), and King Richard II (the 14-year-old monarch).
Student Task:
- Categorise: Complete the 'Causes of the Revolt' table below by placing the historical facts into the correct category.
| Fact |
Social |
Economic |
Political |
| The 1351 Statute of Labourers capped wages. |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
| John Ball preached that everyone was equal. |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
| King Richard II was only 14 and seen as weak. |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
| Peasants wanted to end 'Serfdom' (forced labour). |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
| The Third Poll Tax of 1381 demanded 12 pence. |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
| Fines were issued to those who changed jobs. |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
- Analyse: Write a PEEL paragraph answering the following question: "What was the most significant reason for the Peasants' Revolt?"
- Structure: Use the following sentence starters:
- Point: The most important cause of the Peasants' Revolt was...
- Evidence: For example, the peasants were angry because...
- Explanation: This led to a revolt because it meant that...
- Link: Therefore, this was more important than other factors because...
3. Plenary (15%)
- Check: Conduct a 'Hinge Question' check. Students hold up a) b) c) or d) on their mini-whiteboards.
- Question: Which event was the 'immediate trigger' (the final straw) that started the violence in Essex in May 1381?
- a) ☐ The Black Death
- b) ☐ The arrival of Tax Commissioner John Bampton
- c) ☐ The death of Wat Tyler at Smithfield
- d) ☐ The crowning of Richard II
- Consolidate: Ask one student to define 'Serfdom' in their own words to ensure the core social grievance is understood.
4. Resources
- Exercise books and pens.
- Tier 3 Vocabulary Wall (Serfdom, Statute, Poll Tax, Insurrection).
- 'Causes of the Revolt' categorisation table.
⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE
💡 Pedagogical Insights
- The Bridge to KS4: This lesson introduces the concept of 'significance' and 'categorisation', which are vital for GCSE History. Ensure students understand that 'Economic' refers to money/wealth, while 'Social' refers to how people live and relate to one another.
- Misconception Alert: Students often assume the revolt was successful because serfdom eventually ended. Remind them that in the short term, the leaders were executed and the King broke his promises.
- Oracy Focus: Encourage students to debate John Ball’s famous quote: "When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?" This is an excellent way to introduce the concept of 'Individual Liberty' and 'Democracy' (British Values).
✅ Answer Key & Solutions
Task: Categorisation Table
- The 1351 Statute of Labourers capped wages: Economic (directly relates to earnings).
- John Ball preached that everyone was equal: Social (relates to the structure of society and class).
- King Richard II was only 14 and seen as weak: Political (relates to leadership and power).
- Peasants wanted to end 'Serfdom': Social (relates to status and freedom).
- The Third Poll Tax of 1381 demanded 12 pence: Economic (relates to taxation/cost).
- Fines were issued to those who changed jobs: Political/Economic (Legal control of the workforce).
Plenary: Hinge Question Answer
- Correct Answer: b) ☐ The arrival of Tax Commissioner John Bampton. (This was the spark in Fobbing, Essex).
Task: PEEL Paragraph (Model Solution)
- Point: The most important cause of the Peasants' Revolt was the Third Poll Tax of 1381.
- Evidence: For example, the tax demanded 12 pence from everyone, regardless of whether they were a wealthy lord or a poor labourer.
- Explanation: This led to a revolt because many peasants could not afford to pay and felt the system was fundamentally unfair after they had worked harder following the Black Death.
- Link: Therefore, while long-term issues like serfdom existed, the Poll Tax was the 'spark' that turned frustration into a violent uprising.