Comparing The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 With The Cade Rebellion of 1450

When looking at the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 in comparison to the Cade Rebellion of 1450, there are many apparent explanations as to why the two historical uprisings are so easily comparable. Both of these medieval revolts started due to corruption of government and abuse of power. In the case of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, the peasants and lower class labourers were being taken advantage of because of the decrease in population. Similarly, during the Cade Rebellion, the government had gotten out of line. It is apparent though, in both situations that the primary differences were the people who chose to take a stance, as well as their motivators and ultimate pursuits.

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 came to be due to many varying economic and political tensions of the 14th century. Perhaps one of the biggest motivators for this uprising began with the Black Death, which occurred in the mid 14th century beginning in England in 1348. The Black Death, more commonly known as the bubonic plague, rapidly destroyed the population of England, and by the year 1400, the country was left with approximately half of the amount of people than were present nearly 100 years prior to the plague. This dramatic decrease in population left the country in an economic crisis. Without as many workers to continue the labour as per usual, English parliament felt the need to create a law to supress labourers primarily by limiting wages. This act was entitled the Statute of Labourers 1351.

The Statute of Labourers is a vital part to understanding and analysing the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. The statute created a new law in which labourers were only to be paid yearly, rather than upon a daily or weekly basis. The statute also put a maximum on wages and man...

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...volt of 1381, Charles Oman, (Oxford, 1906)

Jack Cade Proclamation of Grievances, 1450, Three Fifteenth-century chronicles With Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, James Gairdner (ed.) New Series, Vol. 28. (London. Royal Historical Society, 1880), [pp. 94-98]

Statute of Labourers, 1351, Source Problems in English History, A. White and W. Notestein (eds), (New York, 1915)

Secondary Sources:

Dobson, RB (ed.), ‘John Gower Forsees the Peasants’ Revolt’ in The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, (London, 1983)

Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Black Death," http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/67758/Black-Death.

Harvey, I.M.W. (ed.), Jack Cade’s Rebellion of 1450 (Gloucestershire, 1991)

Postan, Michael (ed.), The Medieval Economy and Society, (Harmondsworth 1975)

Ross, David, Jack Cade’s Rebellion-1450,