Peasants' Revolt Cause

In the aftermath of the Black Death in England, peasants found leverage in negotiating better wages due to labor shortages. In response, Parliament enacted the Statute of Labourers in 1351, restraining wage demands to pre-plague levels. This fueled the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Over 70,000 peasants from across England, under the leadership of farmer Wat Tyler, formed the 'Peasant Army' which marched into London, sacking parts of the city and targeting affluent elites.