Causes of The

Peasants' Revolt
 Cause 1 – French Attacks

• During the outbreak and spread of the Black

Death, England was fighting the French in the
Hundred Years War.
• This caused England to lose a lot of money which
increased poverty.
 • The labor shortage caused by the Black Death meant
Cause 2 – The peasants could demand higher pay.
• Due to a lack of people and the weakening of the
Black Death feudal system, the peasants were able to go
to different manors to find better conditions.
 The Statute of Laborers was a law
passed in 1351 that aimed to stop
peasant's free movement around
the countryside and cap their
Cause 3 – wages to 1346 levels.
Statute of
Laborers
As prices went up their wages
didn't.
Cause 4 – Poll Tax

• The Poll tax was the immediate cause of the Peasants' Revolt.
• It was introduced to restore a treasury that had been drained by the Hundred Years war.
• Lords and villagers paid the same and it was 3x more expensive than average taxes.
• This led to a spirit of rebellion!