Экзамен - Старые темы - 1999 / The Wat Tylor Uprising

Part I: On The Eve Of The Uprising

On the eve of the uprising England suffered greatly after the Hundred Years War(1337-1453). The internal troubles were great too. England suffered greatly from the outbreak of plague.

There was shortage after it and government of Edward the III had to take measures to improve the disastrous state of the country. In spite of it the government made attempts to freeze the wages. It made peasants to work as much as it is possible. That’s why many of them run out of their county and moved from place to place in search of job. Thus a new class of migratory wage workers was formed.

The shortage of working hands made lords find the way out. They began to use arable lands for pastures. It gave ground to Tomas More to say that sheep were eating people like hungry wolfs.

The church became more and more powerful and more corrupt. It aroused anger and indignation of common people. The church was criticized not only by common people but also by village priests as well. They were as poor as peasants and were ready to share all the hardships of the common people.

John Wycliff was an Oxford University professor who criticized the church and the monks for their attempts to become rich. His ideas were supported by the group of priests who were called the Lollards.

John Ball was one of the priests called Lollards who called people for actions. People made him a leader of their uprising together with Wat Tyler.

Part II: The Uprising

In may 1381 the tacks collectors came to the Southern Essex. The villagers killed some of them and it served as the signal to the uprising. In a few days the peasants armed with axes, folks and knifes began to ransack the lords’ castles and monasteries.

Soon the uprising spread all over the country.

Finally Watt Tyler, John Ball and Jack Straw led the army of the peasants to London. They were supported by the poor people, so that they could easily enter the city, seize the Headquarters of the lawyers and destroy all the documents connected with the taxation. The king met the army of the rebellions and promised to fulfil all their demands. Many peasants believed the king and left London. But Watt Tyler and some of his supporters stayed there and had a meeting with a king again. During it Watt Tyler was seized and put into prison. The king used the army to punish the rebellions and thus the uprising was subdued. Watt Tyler and John Ball were executed. The king didn’t fulfil his promises.

Conclusion

It was the first serious threat to feudalism, it put the end to serfdom in Britain and helped to the development of the capitalist relations within the country.

The church declared the Lollards and their ideas to be the kind of hiresy and threatened everyone who supported it with punishment.

The Parliament seized the power. It deposed king Richard II and appointed Henry IV. Later on the power of the Parliament continue to grow.