Did You Know? Peasants' Revolt

Subject: History | Year: 7

Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________

• A Teenage King: Believe it or not, King Richard II was only 14 years old when he stood before thousands of angry rebels. He was younger than many students in Year 10 when he had to negotiate the future of the English monarchy.

• The Password Protocol: To prevent government spies from infiltrating their ranks, the rebels used a secret watchword. If a stranger was asked "With whom holden you?", they had to answer "With King Richard and the true commons" or face immediate suspicion.

• London's Open Gates: The rebels didn't need to lay siege to the capital. Many of the poor citizens living inside London actually supported the uprising and opened the gates of London Bridge, allowing Wat Tyler's army to walk straight into the city.

• The Tower Breach: The rebels achieved something no foreign army had ever done: they captured the Tower of London. They found the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chapel and executed him, proving that even the most powerful men in England weren't safe.

• A Cruel Betrayal: To get the peasants to go home, the King signed charters promising to end serfdom (forced labour). However, once the crowds dispersed, he broke every promise, famously telling the peasants: "Villeins you are, and villeins you shall remain."

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Task 1: Check for Understanding

Answer: the following questions based on the facts above:

1. How old was Richard II during the revolt?
2. What was the secret password used by the rebels?
3. Which famous fortress did the rebels successfully capture?

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

💡 Pedagogical Pulse

• Delivery: For Year 7, use these facts to bridge the gap between the "Black Death" and the breakdown of the Feudal System. These facts are designed to humanise the medieval period, particularly the fact about the King's age, which usually shocks students of a similar age.
• Misconception Alert: Ensure students understand that while the revolt "failed" in the short term (the leaders were executed), the Poll Tax was never collected again in that form, showing the power of collective action.

✅ Answer Key & Mirror-Labeling

• Task 1 Answer 1: King Richard II was 14 years old.
• Task 1 Answer 2: The password was "With King Richard and the true commons."
• Task 1 Answer 3: The rebels captured the Tower of London.

🎓 Academic Rigour (PEEL Extension)

Model: Encourage students to use Fact 5 to write a PEEL paragraph on why the Peasants' Revolt was a turning point.

• Point: The Peasants' Revolt showed that the Feudal System was under threat.
• Evidence: Although the King said "Villeins you shall remain," he was forced to stop the Poll Tax.
• Explanation: This suggests that the ruling class was now afraid of the power of the common people.
• Link: Therefore, the revolt marked the beginning of the end for serfdom in England.