Conflict and Upheaval: England, 1337-1381 — Eduqas GCSE History
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Conflict and Upheaval: England, 1337-1381 explained
A study in depth of England between 1337 and 1381, focusing on the political, social, and economic issues of the period, including the Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, and the Peasants' Revolt.
What to demonstrate
- Characteristics of 14th-century English society (church, wool trade, women, social hierarchy).
- Causes of the Hundred Years' War (overseas possessions, relations with France/Scotland, Edward III's claims).
- Course of the Hundred Years' War (alliances, tactics like long-bows and chevauchees, key battles, Treaty of Bretigny).
Show all 7 objectives
- Short-term impact of the Black Death (arrival, spread, contemporary views).
- Long-term consequences of the Black Death (labour shortages, Statute of Labourers, wage/rent changes, art and medicine).
- Causes of the Peasants' Revolt (serfdom, religious ideas, John Ball, French Wars, Poll Tax, Wat Tyler).
- Significance of the Peasants' Revolt (Richard II's promises, wage control, decline of serfdom, impact on the Hundred Years' War).
Conflict and Upheaval: England, 1337-1381 exam tips
Topic Overview
Conflict and Upheaval: England, 1337-1381 covers a period of dramatic change, from the start of the Hundred Years' War to the Peasants' Revolt. You'll explore how war, plague, and social unrest transformed English society. The Hundred Years' War against France drained resources and created new military heroes like Edward the Black Prince, while the Black Death (1348-1349) wiped out a third of the population, leading to labour shortages and rising wages. These changes upset the traditional feudal order and set the stage for the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, when ordinary people demanded an end to serfdom and unfair taxes.
This topic is crucial because it shows how medieval England was not static but dynamic, with ordinary people challenging authority. You'll examine key figures like King Edward III, Richard II, John of Gaunt, and rebel leaders Wat Tyler and John Ball. The period also saw the development of Parliament, as kings needed to raise taxes for war, and the Church faced criticism from figures like John Wycliffe. Understanding these events helps explain the decline of feudalism and the rise of a more modern society.
In the WJEC GCSE, you'll need to analyse causes, events, and consequences. You'll use sources like the Anonimalle Chronicle and the Statute of Labourers to understand different perspectives. The exam will test your ability to explain why things happened (e.g., why the Peasants' Revolt broke out) and to evaluate significance (e.g., how far did the revolt change society?). Mastering this topic gives you a strong foundation for understanding later periods of English history.
Key Concepts
- →Feudalism: The social hierarchy where the king owned all land, granted it to nobles in return for military service, and peasants (villeins) worked the land in exchange for protection. This system was strained by the Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt.
- →The Black Death (1348-1349): A bubonic plague pandemic that killed around one-third of England's population. It led to labour shortages, higher wages for peasants, and the Statute of Labourers (1351) which tried to cap wages, causing resentment.
- →The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453): A series of conflicts between England and France over territory and the French throne. Key battles include Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), where English longbowmen proved decisive. The war required heavy taxation, which fuelled discontent.
- →The Peasants' Revolt (1381): A major uprising across England, triggered by the poll tax (a flat tax per person), unpopular officials, and demands for freedom. Led by Wat Tyler and John Ball, rebels marched on London, but the revolt collapsed after Tyler's death and Richard II's promises (later broken).
- →The Role of the Church: The Church was powerful and wealthy, but criticised by John Wycliffe, who argued for a simpler faith and translated the Bible into English. Lollards (his followers) challenged Church authority, linking to wider demands for reform.
Marking Points
- Characteristics of 14th-century English society (church, wool trade, women, social hierarchy).
- Causes of the Hundred Years' War (overseas possessions, relations with France/Scotland, Edward III's claims).
- Course of the Hundred Years' War (alliances, tactics like long-bows and chevauchees, key battles, Treaty of Bretigny).
- Short-term impact of the Black Death (arrival, spread, contemporary views).
- Long-term consequences of the Black Death (labour shortages, Statute of Labourers, wage/rent changes, art and medicine).
- Causes of the Peasants' Revolt (serfdom, religious ideas, John Ball, French Wars, Poll Tax, Wat Tyler).
- Significance of the Peasants' Revolt (Richard II's promises, wage control, decline of serfdom, impact on the Hundred Years' War).
Examiner Tips
- 💡Develop an awareness of how these issues have been represented and interpreted.
- 💡Use a range of historical sources to address key questions.
- 💡Focus on the complexity of the society and historical situation.
- 💡Demonstrate chronological grasp and the ability to explain consequences.
- 💡Use specific evidence: When explaining causes or consequences, always include precise details like dates, names, and events. For example, instead of saying 'taxes caused the revolt', say 'the poll tax of 1381, which was three times higher than previous taxes, sparked outrage in Essex and Kent.'
- 💡Analyse sources critically: In source questions, don't just describe what the source says. Consider its provenance (who wrote it, when, why) and how reliable it is. For example, the Anonimalle Chronicle was written by a monk who was hostile to the rebels, so it may exaggerate their violence.
- 💡Link events to the big picture: Show how events connect. For instance, explain how the Black Death led to labour shortages, which led to the Statute of Labourers, which caused peasant resentment, which contributed to the Peasants' Revolt. This demonstrates a chain of causation.
Common Mistakes
- Misconception: The Peasants' Revolt was a single, unified rebellion. Correction: It was a series of local uprisings across England, with different grievances. The Kent and Essex rebels marched on London, but other areas had their own protests.
- Misconception: The Black Death ended feudalism immediately. Correction: Feudalism declined gradually. The Black Death created labour shortages and higher wages, but landlords fought back with laws like the Statute of Labourers. The Peasants' Revolt was a key moment, but serfdom persisted for another century.
- Misconception: The Hundred Years' War was a continuous conflict. Correction: It was a series of campaigns with long truces. For example, after the Treaty of Brétigny (1360), there was peace until 1369. The war also had phases where England was winning (e.g., Crécy, Poitiers) and later losing ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Peasants' Revolt happen in 1381?
The Peasants' Revolt was caused by a combination of long-term and short-term factors. Long-term causes included the Black Death (1348-1349), which led to labour shortages and higher wages, but the government passed the Statute of Labourers (1351) to cap wages, causing resentment. The Hundred Years' War required heavy taxes, such as the poll tax of 1381, which was a flat tax on every adult. Short-term triggers included the harsh collection of the poll tax in Essex and Kent, and the actions of officials like John Bampton. The rebels demanded an end to serfdom, lower taxes, and the removal of unpopular officials.
What was the Black Death and how did it change England?
The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that reached England in 1348 and killed about one-third of the population by 1349. It caused severe labour shortages, meaning peasants could demand higher wages and better conditions. Landlords tried to enforce pre-plague wages through the Statute of Labourers (1351), but many peasants resisted. The shortage of workers also led to the decline of the manorial system, as lords had to rent out land or pay higher wages. This increased social mobility and weakened feudalism, setting the stage for the Peasants' Revolt.
Who was Wat Tyler and why is he important?
Wat Tyler was the leader of the Kentish rebels during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. He emerged as a charismatic leader who united the rebels and led the march on London. Tyler met King Richard II at Smithfield on 15 June 1381, where he presented the rebels' demands, including the abolition of serfdom and the removal of traitors. However, during the meeting, Tyler was killed by the Mayor of London, William Walworth, after an alleged altercation. His death led to the collapse of the revolt, as the rebels lost their leader and were persuaded to disperse by Richard II's promises.
What was the Hundred Years' War and why did it start?
The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453. It started because King Edward III of England claimed the French throne after the death of the last Capetian king, Charles IV, in 1328. The French chose Philip VI of Valois instead, leading to a dispute. Edward also wanted to regain English territories in France, such as Gascony. The war was fought mainly in France, with major English victories at Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), thanks to the effective use of longbowmen. The war drained England's resources and led to high taxes, which contributed to domestic unrest.
How did the Church contribute to the upheaval in this period?
The Church was a major landowner and political power in medieval England, but it faced criticism during this period. John Wycliffe, an Oxford scholar, argued that the Church was too wealthy and corrupt, and he promoted a simpler faith based on the Bible. His followers, the Lollards, spread these ideas, which challenged Church authority. The Church also played a role in the Peasants' Revolt: the rebel priest John Ball preached radical ideas about equality, such as 'When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?' The Church's wealth and power made it a target for rebels, who attacked Church property and killed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury.
What were the consequences of the Peasants' Revolt?
In the short term, the revolt failed: Richard II revoked his promises, and many rebels were executed. However, the revolt had long-term consequences. It made the ruling class realise that they could not push peasants too far, and serfdom gradually declined. The poll tax was abandoned, and Parliament became more cautious about granting taxes. The revolt also showed that ordinary people could organise and challenge authority, inspiring future movements. While the immediate changes were limited, the revolt contributed to the end of feudalism in England.