Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Compare the Peasants' Revolt and the Chartists' campaign. In what way were they similar?

The Peasants' Revolt (Wat Tyler's Rebellion) lasted less than a month in 1381. Chartism (1838–48) was a much longer-lasting movement. They were both significant in English history, and they were both strong expressions of discontent with the government's policies. Also, both had charismatic leaders: Wat Tyler and Feargus Edward O'Connor. After that, however, the links between the two are—at best—tenuous. Their differences outnumber their similarities.
One big difference was their length and the historical eras in which they occurred. The Peasants' Revolt was utterly defeated after a month. Chartism evolved over a decade and ultimately secured some concessions. The Peasants' Revolt grew out of frustration with the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), a too-low maximum wage, and exploitation of labor after the Black Death (1347–1351). Peasants were unhappy with serfdom and their economic situation. Chartism was a broader movement in that it included political demands as well as economic ones. For instance, Chartists wanted expanded voting rights. The Peasants' Revolt occurred in medieval England, while Chartism took place in an industrializing and fast-changing nation. King Richard II met Tyler and heard his demands before London's mayor killed the rebel leader. Tyler's death led to the quick end of the Peasants' Revolt. The Chartists, on the other hand, primarily sought redress of their grievances through Parliament. Chartists' use of riots and their revolt failed, so they focused on legal ways to fight for change.

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