What was the cause of the English Peasant Revolt?

Answered on Quora

There are several causes. However most of these center around feudal control of the labor market and excessive taxation. The English peasant revolt of 1381 for example can be traced back to the Statute of Laborers (1351) that attempted to limit wages to two pence a day. The Statute was passed after the Black Death to prevent peasants profiting from the labor shortage that resulted after the plague.

The law had the net effect of preventing the peasants from moving to higher wage jobs thereby limiting their opportunities. Add to this an unfair Poll Tax (that fell heavily on the peasants) and the fact that many Laborers were forced to work on Church land without pay and you have the recipe for revolt.

One can only restrict the Freedom of the Individual both socially and economically for so long before a system eventually snaps.