Political Instability of 15th century England essays

Political Instability of 15th century England essays The Black Deaths Involvement in the Peasants Revolt of 1381 During a time of crisis, people who do not ordinarily get along seem to suddenly share common ground. At the time of the Black Death when the bubonic plague struck women, men, lords and peasants alike, those who had always felt to be at the bottom of the social chain suddenly felt as if something had equalized them with everyone who had always been at the top. The peasants who survived the plague believed themselves to be blessed and were positive that it was a sign from God to improve their lives. Unfortunately for them, this feeling was soon to be taken away and they were not going to let it go without a fight and thus began the Peasants Revolt of 1381. After the Black Death, lords and manors were in desperate need of workers. The plague had caused a labor shortage and this allowed peasants to demand higher wages. For the first time the ball was in the court of the common man and they were threatening to leave their villages, upsetting the Feudal System to find other lords who offered better wages. As a result, more freedom and more money was given to these peasants by the manors. In 1351, the lords had had enough and introduced the Statue of Laborers. The statue included that peasants could not be paid more than they had been paid in 1346, that no master should offer any more money than they had before and that peasants could not leaves the villages to which they belonged. Once again, the common man was at the bottom of the chain. Peasants finally grew tired of being at the mercy of their masters and wanted the equality they once enjoyed after the Black Death and this feeling of despair led to a class war. A class war could be defined as a time when ordinary people have had enough of being pushed around and decide to fight back. The peasants were simply worn-out. In a short time they had been given a little bi...