According to Barbara Tuchman, the immediate cause of the revolt was the imposition of a poll tax, specifically the third poll tax in four years, which triggered widespread discontent among the peasants
. This tax was a direct and tangible burden that ignited the uprising. Additional context from historical accounts related to similar revolts, such as the Jacquerie in 14th-century France, indicates that the immediate cause there was a law requiring peasants to defend the châteaux-symbols of their oppression-which further inflamed tensions already high due to political and economic distress
. While Tuchman emphasizes the poll tax as the immediate spark, the broader causes included political oppression, economic hardship, and social inequality
. In summary, Tuchman identifies the immediate cause of the revolt as the poll tax, set against a backdrop of political and economic grievances.
