On This Day In History: Peasants’ Revolt First Great Popular Uprising In English History – On June 12, 1381

MessageToEagle.com – On June 12, 1381, first great popular rebellion in English history begins and is known as Peasants’ Revolt or Wat Tyler’s Rebellion.

From the 1340s onwards, the catastrophic plague, known as the Black Death, had swept through England, killing between a third and half of the population.

These huge death tolls led to a shortage of people left to work the land.

The remaining peasants began to re-evaluate their worth and subsequently demanded higher wages and better working conditions.

Between 1377 and 1381, a number of taxes were put to finance government spending and annger among these people was simmering. This prompted a violent rebellion in June 1381, known as the Peasants’ Revolt.

The uprising was centered in the southeastern counties and East Anglia, with minor disturbances in other areas. It began in Essex in May, taking the government of the young king Richard II by surprise. In June rebels from Essex and Kent marched toward London.

A large group of commoners rode on London, storming the Tower of London and demanding reforms from the young King Richard II. The rebellion would end in failure.

The rebellion lasted less than a month and failed completely as a social revolution. King Richard’s promises at Mile End and Smithfield were promptly forgotten, and manorial discontent continued to find expression in local riots.

A number of important rebels were killed, including their leader Wat Tyler. Richard suppressed the rebellion by promising reforms but failed to keep his word.

Instead, punishments were harsh.

Despite its failure, the incident is seen as a defining moment in the history of popular rebellion.

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