A serious consequence of the Black Death was the peasants' rising or the
Peasants' Revolt. Because of the dreadful mortality in that serious pestilence,
there were a dearth of labourers and a rise in wages. But, the situation
proved inconvenient for the landowners. They were unwilling to pay more wages.
At the same time, they could not allow their land to remain uncultivated.
Naturally, they had to do something to tide over the situation. The
landowners were strong in Parliament. They wanted to enact some law in their
favour. Their policy resulted in injustice and wrong to a large number of
peasants. Naturally, resentment among them started. They demanded that so long
as prices did not fall, there could be no reduction in wages.
A situation for the Peasants' Revolt was prepared. Discontented men
clamoured and complained loudly against the injustice done. The imposition of a
tax, known as the poll tax, fomented further to lead the discontent to burst
into flames, under the leadership of John Ball, Wat Taylor, Jack Straw and many
more.
The Peasants' rising took place in East Angelia and the counties in a neighbourhood in 1381. Violent acts followed the burning of manor houses
and rich palaces. The rioters pillaged and burned even the palace of John of
Gaunt. They forced their way into the Tower and murdered the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the treasurer.
The situation worsened and needed strong action. Fortunately, the king was
alive to the impending calamity. Force was employed to put down the Peasants'
Revolt with great severity.
The Peasants' Revolt had a lesson for the rulers, may for the entire community. Injustice often leads to violence and neither party gains anything out of it. Mutual understanding and conciliatory attitude alone can end the mess of confusions and confrontations and bring amity to society.
Hello, my name is Maruf Mahmood. I'm a 28 year old self-employed blogger from Dhaka 
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