Challenging authority and feudalism — AQA GCSE History

This topic explores the challenges to established authority and the feudal system in medieval England, focusing on key events such as the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and the decline of feudalism. Students will examine how social, economic, and political pressures, including the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War, undermined the traditional hierarchy. Understanding these challenges is crucial for grasping the shift from medieval to early modern society, where centralized monarchies began to replace feudal structures.

The feudal system, based on land ownership and obligations between lords and vassals, was the backbone of medieval society. However, by the 14th century, it faced significant strain. The Black Death (1348-1349) drastically reduced the population, creating labour shortages that empowered peasants to demand higher wages and better conditions. This, combined with heavy taxation to fund wars in France, led to widespread discontent. The Peasants' Revolt of 1381, led by Wat Tyler and John Ball, was a direct challenge to royal authority and the feudal order, demanding an end to serfdom and fairer laws.

This topic fits into the wider AQA GCSE History syllabus by illustrating the transition from medieval to early modern Britain. It connects to themes of power, rebellion, and social change, and provides a foundation for understanding later challenges to authority, such as the English Civil War. By studying the causes, events, and consequences of the Peasants' Revolt, students learn how ordinary people could influence the course of history and how governments respond to crises.

• →Feudalism: A hierarchical system where the king granted land (fiefs) to nobles in exchange for military service, and peasants (serfs) worked the land in return for protection.
• →Peasants' Revolt (1381): A major uprising against the poll tax, low wages, and serfdom, led by Wat Tyler and John Ball, which was ultimately suppressed but led to long-term changes.
• →Black Death: The plague that killed about one-third of England's population, causing labour shortages and giving peasants more bargaining power, which undermined feudalism.
• →Statute of Labourers (1351): A law that attempted to freeze wages at pre-plague levels, causing resentment among peasants who wanted higher pay.
• →Poll Tax: A flat-rate tax per head introduced in 1377, 1379, and 1380 to fund the Hundred Years' War, which was deeply unpopular and sparked the revolt.

• Constraints on kingship: barons' dissatisfaction with King John and the resolution via Magna Carta.
• The origins of parliament: issues between Henry III and his barons, the role of Simon de Montfort, and the Provisions of Oxford/Parliament of 1265.
• Medieval revolt and royal authority: social, economic, and political causes of the Peasants' Revolt, actions by rebels and government, and the impact of the revolt.

• 💡When writing about the causes of the Peasants' Revolt, ensure you link long-term factors (like the Black Death and Statute of Labourers) to short-term triggers (the poll tax and the actions of tax collectors). This shows analytical depth.
• 💡Use specific details, such as the names of leaders (Wat Tyler, John Ball) and key events (the storming of the Tower of London, the Mile End meeting), to demonstrate knowledge and secure higher marks.
• 💡For evaluation questions, consider the significance of the revolt: did it achieve its aims? While immediate demands were not met, it highlighted the power of collective action and contributed to the end of serfdom.

• Misconception: The Peasants' Revolt was a complete failure because it was crushed. Correction: While the revolt was suppressed, it forced the government to reconsider the poll tax and eventually led to the decline of serfdom in England.
• Misconception: Feudalism ended immediately after the Black Death. Correction: Feudalism declined gradually over the 14th and 15th centuries due to multiple factors, including the Black Death, the Peasants' Revolt, and the rise of a money economy.