Causation: causes, triggers and importance
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Sort the causes of an event into long-term, short-term and trigger
- Say whether an event is a cause or a consequence
- Rank causes and give a reason, using a criterion such as how direct or how necessary
- Explain a chain of causes with arrows and linking words
You should already know
- Source analysis and provenance (Chapter 1)
- Interpretations and how historians argue (Chapter 2)
Where this leads
- Consequences (Chapter 4)
- Significance and how far answers (Chapter 6)
GCSE History. Content follows the GCSE (9-1) subject content for England (Edexcel and AQA). Content references: Distinguish long-term, short-term and trigger causes, Explain necessary and sufficient causes, and tell a cause from a consequence, Rank causes by importance, using stated criteria and a reason, Link causes into a chain in which one factor leads to another.
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Recall the difference between the two kinds of source.
- Recall. A source made later, by someone who did not take part, is secondary.secondary
- Write the answer. secondary
Check. A primary source is made at the time.
Method. Recall the word from Chapter 2.
- Recall. Background and values give a historian a perspective.perspective
- Write the answer. perspective
Check. Perspective is one of four reasons historians differ.
Method. Recall the word from Chapter 2.
- Recall. The main claim of an interpretation is its argument.argument
- Write the answer. argument
Check. Evidence supports the argument.
Method. Subtract the earlier year from the later year.
- Subtract. The later year minus the earlier year gives the number of years.1381 - 1348 = 33
- Write the answer. 33
Check. 1348 + 33 = 1381.
Method. Recall the date of the fire.
- Recall. The Great Fire of London was in 1666.1666
- Write the answer. 1666
Check. The fire is one year after 1665.
Long-term, short-term and trigger causes
A long-term cause builds up over many years. It creates the conditions for the event. A short-term cause is something that happens shortly before the event, and makes it more likely. A trigger is the event that sets the main event off.
For the Great Fire of London (1666): the houses were mostly built of timber and thatch and packed closely together (long-term); the summer had been hot and dry and a strong wind blew (short-term); a fire in a bakery started the blaze (trigger).
Key ideas
- Long-term: builds up over years; creates the conditions.
- Short-term: happens shortly before and makes the event more likely.
- Trigger: the event that sets the main event off.
- The same factor can be long-term in one event and short-term in another.
Method. Ask what the fire did.
- Look at its role. The bakery fire was the event that started the blaze.started the blaze
- Name the type. The event that sets the main event off is a trigger.trigger
- Write the answer. trigger
Check. It did not build up over years; it started the spread in one day.
Method. Find the effect of the Black Death on workers.
- Find the effect. The Black Death killed many workers, so labour became scarce.labour became scarce
- Name the cause. A labour shortage that lasted for years is a long-term cause.labour shortage
- Write the answer. labour shortage
Check. The shortage built up over years after 1348.
Method. Look for a condition that happened shortly before the fire.
- Find the condition. The summer had been hot and dry, with a strong wind.hot, dry, windy
- Name the cause. Weather just before and during the fire is short-term.hot, dry weather
- Write the answer. hot, dry weather
Check. Any one weather condition is accepted, such as strong wind.
Watch out
Watch out: a trigger is not the most important cause just because it is last. The trigger set off the event; the long-term causes made it likely.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Name the type of cause in your first words: “A long-term cause was…”. Then give one piece of evidence.
Exercise 3A Long-term, short-term and trigger causes
Method. Think about the event that set the blaze off.
- Look at its role. The bakery fire started the blaze on a single day.started the blaze
- Name the type. The event that sets the main event off is a trigger.trigger
- Write the answer. trigger
Check. It is the spark, not the condition.
Method. Think about how long the houses had been like this.
- Look at the date. The houses had been built this way for years before 1666.years before
- Name the type. A condition that builds up over years is a long-term cause.long-term
- Write the answer. long-term
Check. A long-term cause creates the conditions for the event.
Method. Think about how close to the fire these conditions were.
- Look at the date. The weather was in place in the weeks before and during the fire.weeks before
- Name the type. Conditions close to the event that make it more likely are short-term.short-term
- Write the answer. short-term
Check. Short-term causes are close to the event in time.
Method. Recall the start date of the Black Death.
- Recall. The Black Death in England began in 1348.1348
- Write the answer. 1348
Check. The Peasants’ Revolt came 33 years later, in 1381.
Method. Think about the tax at the centre of the revolt.
- Recall. Poll taxes were collected in the late 1370s and in 1380, and again in 1381.poll tax
- Write the answer. poll tax
Check. Check fact: confirm the tax dates in your textbook.
Method. Recall the date of the statute.
- Recall. The Statute of Labourers was passed in 1351.1351
- Write the answer. 1351
Check. It was passed after the Black Death, to fix wages.
Method. Subtract the earlier year from the later year.
- Subtract. The revolt year minus the statute year gives the gap.1381 - 1351 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 1351 + 30 = 1381.
Method. It built up over years after 1348.
- Check. The shortage lasted for years, so it is long-term.years
- Write the answer. long-term
Check. A long-term cause creates the conditions.
Method. It came shortly before the revolt.
- Check. The tax was collected in 1380, a year before the revolt.1380
- Write the answer. short-term
Check. The tax made the anger stronger before 1381.
Method. It set the revolt off.
- Check. Protests began when the tax was collected in 1381.set off
- Write the answer. trigger
Check. The trigger starts the main event.
Method. Compare how they work over time.
- Long-term. A long-term cause builds up over many years.builds up
- Trigger. A trigger is the event that sets the main event off.sets off
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a long-term cause builds up over time, while a trigger is the event that sets the main event off.
Check. Time is the key difference.
Method. Find the event that set the riot off.
- Find the event. The riot started when a stone was thrown at a window.stone thrown
- Check. The wage cut and years of resentment were the causes that made the riot likely.causes made likely
- Write the answer. a stone thrown at a window
Check. This is invented for practice: the stone is the trigger, not the wage cut.
Method. Find the event just before the riot.
- Find the event. The owners cut wages in 1858, shortly before the riot.cut wages
- Write the answer. cut wages
Check. The years of resentment were long-term causes.
Method. Think about what the sorting helps you see.
- Think. Sorting shows how the causes built up over time.built up
- Decide. It also shows which event set the main event off.set off
- Write the answer. Accept any reason that says it shows how causes built up over time, and which one set the event off.
Check. Sorting helps you explain the timing of an event.
Necessary and sufficient causes; cause and consequence
A necessary cause is one without which the event would not have happened. A sufficient cause is enough, on its own, to bring the event about. A consequence is an effect of an event, and it comes after the event. The rebuilding of London in brick after 1666 was a consequence of the Great Fire; the bakery fire was a cause of it.
Key ideas
- Necessary: without it, the event would not have happened.
- Sufficient: enough on its own to bring the event about.
- Consequence: an effect that comes after the event.
- A cause is never a consequence of the same event.
Method. Check the order of events.
- Check the order. The rebuilding came after the fire, so it is an effect of the fire.after the fire
- Name the type. An effect that comes after the event is a consequence.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. The rebuilding was partly ordered by a government rule, which is also a consequence.
Method. Check the order.
- Check the order. The shortage came after the disease killed many workers.after the disease
- Name the type. An effect that follows the disease is a consequence.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. The shortage was then a cause of the wage problem that led to the Statute of Labourers.
Method. Think about what a fire needs.
- Recall. A fire needs fuel, heat and oxygen to burn.fuel, heat, oxygen
- Name it. Without any one of these, a fire would not start.necessary
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says fuel, heat and oxygen (or a spark in dry materials).
Check. Each is necessary; together they are sufficient for a fire.
Watch out
Watch out: “sufficient” does not mean “the only cause”. A sufficient cause is enough by itself, but there may be more than one sufficient cause.
Exam tip
Exam tip. When asked whether something is a cause or a consequence, check the date first: a consequence must come after the event.
Exercise 3B Necessary and sufficient causes; cause and consequence
Method. Recall the word for an essential cause.
- Recall. A cause that must be present for the event to happen is necessary.necessary
- Write the answer. necessary
Check. A necessary cause is essential, not just helpful.
Method. Recall the word for an enough-on-its-own cause.
- Recall. A cause that is enough by itself is sufficient.sufficient
- Write the answer. sufficient
Check. A sufficient cause does not rule out other causes.
Method. Recall the word for an effect.
- Recall. An effect that follows an event is a consequence.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. A consequence comes after the event, never before.
Method. Check the order of events.
- Check the order. The statute came after the Black Death and was a response to its effects.after the disease
- Name the type. So it is a consequence.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. The statute was itself a cause of later anger.
Method. Check the order of events.
- Check the order. Many workers died in the disease, which then left too few workers.died, then shortage
- Name the type. So the shortage is a consequence of the disease.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. The shortage then became a cause of wage pressure.
Method. Check the order.
- Check the order. Wages rose after workers became scarce.after scarcity
- Name the type. So the wage rise is a consequence of the shortage.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. The wage rise then became a cause of the government’s action.
Method. It started the fire.
- Check the order. The bakery fire came before the spread.before
- Write the answer. cause
Check. It is the trigger.
Method. It came after the fire.
- Check the order. Rebuilding follows the fire.after
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. The rebuilding is an effect.
Method. It came before the fire.
- Check the order. The weather came before the fire.before
- Write the answer. cause
Check. It is a short-term cause.
Method. Think about what was rebuilt, and how.
- Think. After the fire, many buildings were rebuilt in brick and stone rather than timber.brick and stone
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says London was rebuilt, with more brick and stone.
Check. Check fact: the rebuilding rules are in your textbook.
Method. Recall what a fire needs to burn.
- Recall. A fire needs fuel, heat and oxygen to keep burning.fuel, heat, oxygen
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says fuel, heat and oxygen.
Check. Each one is necessary for the fire to start and continue.
Method. Define each word.
- Necessary. A necessary cause must be present for the event to happen.must be present
- Sufficient. A sufficient cause is enough on its own.enough alone
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a necessary cause must be present, while a sufficient cause is enough on its own.
Check. Keep the two definitions separate.
Method. Think about whether a cause can need other causes.
- Think. Many causes need other conditions before they bring the event about.need others
- Decide. So a cause is not always sufficient on its own.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. The labour shortage alone did not produce the revolt; the tax and anger were also needed.
Ranking causes by importance
Useful criteria are: how direct the cause was (how close it was to the event); how necessary it was (whether the event would have happened without it); how long lasting it was (its duration); and how many people it affected. Use one or two criteria, and say which you have used.
A ranking without a reason is only an opinion. Always say why one cause matters more than another.
Key ideas
- Choose a criterion and say what it is.
- Criteria: direct, necessary, long-lasting, wide in effect.
- Rank causes, then give the most important with a reason.
- Both long-term and trigger causes can be the most important, depending on your criterion.
Method. Ask which would have been missing without the other.
- Rank. The labour shortage created the wage grievance, which the poll tax made worse.shortage first
- Name the criterion. Under the necessary criterion, the shortage is more important because the grievance existed before the tax.labour shortage
- Write the answer. the labour shortage
Check. Other historians rank the poll tax as more important because it was the trigger; give your reason.
Method. Match the criterion to its question.
- Match. A criterion that asks how long something lasted is about its duration.duration
- Write. The word is duration.duration
- Write the answer. duration
Check. Duration is the length of time a cause affected the event.
Method. Choose one criterion and apply it to both causes.
- Choose a criterion. Use how necessary each was for the fire to spread widely.necessary
- Apply it. Wooden houses packed closely together helped the fire spread, and this lasted for years.wooden houses and duration
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that gives a reason with one criterion.
Check. Another criterion could reach a different judgement; the reason matters.
Watch out
Watch out: “it was the most important because it was the biggest” is not a criterion. Name a criterion such as how direct, how necessary or how long lasting.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Write: “The most important cause was… because, using the criterion of…” Then add one piece of evidence.
Exercise 3C Ranking causes by importance
Method. Ask which cause the revolt would have lacked without it.
- Ask the question. Without the labour shortage, the wage grievance would not have built up.built up
- Rank. So the labour shortage is more important under the necessary criterion.cause 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Under the criterion of how direct, the poll tax may rank higher.
Method. Link the two causes together.
- Explain. The shortage raised wages and the government tried to fix them.raised wages
- Link. The poll tax then increased the anger that the shortage had created.made worse
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the labour shortage created the wage grievance, which the poll taxes then made worse.
Check. A reason links the two causes.
Method. Recall the criterion about time.
- Recall. The criterion about time is duration: how long the cause lasted.duration
- Write the answer. duration
Check. Duration is one of four common criteria.
Method. Recall the criterion about need.
- Recall. The criterion about whether the event needed the cause is necessity.necessary
- Write the answer. necessary
Check. This criterion is linked to the idea of a necessary cause.
Method. Recall the common criteria.
- Recall. Common criteria include directness, necessity, duration and the number of people affected.directness, necessity
- Write the answer. Accept any criterion, such as how direct, how necessary, how long lasting, or how many people it affected.
Check. A criterion is a standard, not a result.
Method. Think about whether the claim can be proven.
- Check the claim. Ranking causes depends on a criterion, so it is an argument.depends on criterion
- Decide. So the claim is a judgement, not a fact.judgement
- Write the answer. judgement
Check. Different criteria can lead to different judgements.
Method. Check whether the ranking is an argument.
- Check. The historian gives a reason, which makes it an argument.reason
- Decide. So the ranking is a judgement.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A judgement with a reason is still open to challenge.
Method. Ask which cause came straight before the riot.
- Find the direct link. The stone was thrown just before the riot started.just before
- Rank. So under how direct, the stone is more important.b
- Write the answer. b
Check. Under how necessary, the wage cut may rank higher. Give the criterion you use.
Method. Think about the order of the task.
- Think. You must first list the causes, then rank them.list first
- Decide. So the first step is to identify the causes.identify
- Write the answer. identify
Check. Ranking comes second, and argument third.
Method. Think about what a reason adds.
- Think. A reason shows the criterion and the evidence behind the ranking.criterion
- Decide. Without it, the ranking cannot be checked.cannot be checked
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a ranking without a reason is only an opinion.
Check. A reason makes the judgement testable.
Method. Rank, then give one reason.
- Rank. Choose three causes and order them by a stated criterion.three causes
- Reason. The labour shortage ranks top under how necessary it was.top
- Write the answer. Accept any answer naming the labour shortage or the poll tax, with a reason.
Check. The reason is the criterion, not the position.
Method. Name a cause and a criterion together.
- Name. Name one cause, such as the timber houses.timber houses
- Criterion. Use how necessary it was for the spread of the fire.how necessary
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that names one cause and a criterion, such as how direct or how necessary.
Check. A judgement needs a criterion and a cause.
Chains of causation
The chain for the Peasants’ Revolt begins with the Black Death (1348 to 1349). The disease killed many workers. Fewer workers meant higher wages. The Statute of Labourers (1351) tried to fix wages. Anger grew, and the poll taxes made it worse. The protests of 1381 turned into a revolt.
A chain uses arrows, and each link uses a linking word such as so, because or which led to.
Key ideas
- A chain shows one factor leading to another, with arrows.
- Each link needs an explanation: why did one lead to the next?
- Linking words: so, because, which led to, as a result.
- A chain can contain both long-term and trigger causes.
Method. Read the chain from the left.
- Read the chain. The Black Death is followed by an arrow to the next link.arrow
- Name the link. The link after the Black Death is the labour shortage.labour shortage
- Write the answer. labour shortage
Check. The shortage is the first link in the chain.
Method. Use a linking word.
- Explain the first part. The shortage meant workers could demand higher wages.higher wages
- Explain the link. So the government passed the statute to fix wages.so
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the shortage raised wages, so the government passed the statute to fix them.
Check. The link must say why one led to the next.
Method. Start with the trigger and follow the spread.
- Start. The bakery fire starts the blaze.bakery fire
- Spread. Strong wind and timber houses let the fire spread.wind and timber
- Write the answer. Accept any chain such as: strong wind → fire spreads → houses burn, with the bakery fire at the start.
Check. A chain can start with any link, but it must be ordered in time.
Watch out
Watch out: a list is not a chain. “Wind, wood and a bakery” lists causes. A chain says how each one led to the next.
Exam tip
Exam tip. In “how did one factor lead to another?” questions, write one sentence per link, each with a linking word.
Exercise 3D Chains of causation
Method. Read the chain from the left.
- Read. The Black Death is followed by an arrow to the labour shortage.labour shortage
- Write the answer. labour shortage
Check. The shortage then led to higher wages.
Method. Think about why the government passed it.
- Think. The statute tried to hold wages at their earlier level.hold wages
- Decide. So it aimed to fix wages.fix wages
- Write the answer. fix wages
Check. Accept “limit wages” or “stop wages rising”.
Method. Find the link between higher wages and anger.
- Find the link. The government response to higher wages was the statute.statute
- Write the answer. Statute of Labourers
Check. The statute came in 1351.
Method. Compare the order of the two events.
- Compare. The poll taxes were collected in the late 1370s and 1380, before the revolt in 1381.before 1381
- Decide. So the poll tax came first.poll tax
- Write the answer. poll tax
Check. Check fact: confirm the tax dates in your textbook.
Method. Compare the two dates.
- Compare. The Black Death began in 1348, three years before the statute.1348 before 1351
- Decide. So the Black Death came first.Black Death
- Write the answer. Black Death
Check. The statute was a response to the Black Death.
Method. Think about what has to happen first.
- Order. A fire must start before it can spread or burn houses.start first
- Decide. So the first link is the bakery fire starting.bakery fire starts
- Write the answer. the bakery fire starts
Check. The order is start, spread, burn.
Method. Show the links in order.
- Link 1. The shortage raised wages.raised wages
- Link 2. The government tried to fix them, so workers resented it.resented
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the shortage raised wages, the government tried to fix them, and workers resented it.
Check. Each link must say why it led to the next.
Method. Think about how the workers reacted to the statute.
- Think. The statute was unpopular, and workers felt angry about it.unpopular
- Write the answer. anger
Check. Resentment is also accepted.
Method. Count the arrows.
- Count. The chain has two arrows, so two links.two arrows
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Three items make two links.
Method. Think about what wind does to a fire.
- Think. Wind blows sparks and flames onto other buildings.sparks onto buildings
- Write the answer. spread
Check. Accept “faster spread”.
Method. Choose three links and name the trigger.
- Chain. Black Death → labour shortage → anger.three links
- Trigger. The tax collection in 1381 set off the revolt.trigger
- Write the answer. Accept any chain with three linked causes, naming the poll tax or the tax collection as the trigger.
Check. Check fact: confirm the tax dates in your textbook.
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Sort causes | Long-term builds up over years; short-term happens shortly before; trigger sets the event off |
| Necessary and sufficient | Necessary: must be present. Sufficient: enough on its own. |
| Cause or consequence | Check the order: a consequence comes after the event |
| Rank causes | Name a criterion (direct, necessary, duration, number affected) and give a reason |
| Chains | One link per sentence, joined by arrows and linking words |
Can you…?
- I can sort a cause into long-term, short-term or trigger.
- I can explain necessary and sufficient causes with an example.
- I can tell a cause from a consequence by checking the order of events.
- I can rank causes using a named criterion and give a reason.
- I can explain a chain of causes, one link at a time.
Key terms
- cause
- something that helps to bring an event about
- long-term cause
- a factor that builds up over many years and creates the conditions for an event
- short-term cause
- a factor that happens shortly before an event and makes it more likely
- trigger
- the event that sets the main event off
- necessary cause
- a cause without which the event would not have happened
- sufficient cause
- a cause that is enough, on its own, to bring the event about
- consequence
- an effect of an event that comes after it
- chain of causation
- a sequence in which one cause leads to the next
Exercise 3Z Check-up
Method. Ask what the fire did.
- Look at its role. The bakery fire started the spread.started
- Name the type. So it is the trigger.trigger
- Write the answer. trigger
Check. It is the event that set the main event off.
Method. Recall the term.
- Recall. A cause that must be present is necessary.necessary
- Write the answer. necessary
Check. A sufficient cause is different: it is enough on its own.
Method. Check the order of events.
- Check. The rebuilding came after the fire.after
- Decide. So it is a consequence.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. A consequence comes after the event.
Method. Recall the purpose of the statute.
- Recall. The statute tried to fix wages after the labour shortage.wages
- Write the answer. wages
Check. The statute was a response to the Black Death.
Method. Recall the disease.
- Recall. The Black Death reached England in 1348.Black Death
- Write the answer. Black Death
Check. It killed many workers, causing the shortage.
Method. Recall the criterion.
- Recall. The criterion about time is duration.duration
- Write the answer. duration
Check. Duration is about the length of time.
Method. Think about when the tax was collected.
- Think. The tax was collected shortly before the revolt and set the protests off.shortly before
- Decide. So it is best seen as the trigger.trigger
- Write the answer. trigger
Check. Some historians treat it as short-term; give your reason if you do.
Method. Find the government action between wages and the revolt.
- Find it. The statute was the government response to higher wages.statute
- Write the answer. Statute of Labourers
Check. The statute was passed in 1351.
Method. Think about how wind moves flames.
- Think. Wind blows sparks and flames to new buildings.sparks to buildings
- Decide. So a strong wind helps the fire spread.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Wind is a short-term cause of the spread.
Method. Think about what a reason adds.
- Think. A reason shows the criterion used.criterion
- Decide. So the ranking can be checked and judged.checked
- Write the answer. Accept any reason that says a ranking without a reason is only an opinion.
Check. A reason makes an argument testable.
Total 27 marks. Allow about 27 minutes.
Exercise 3X Exam-style questions
Method. Ask what the fire did.
- Look at its role. The bakery fire started the blaze.started the blaze
- Name the type. So it is the trigger.trigger
- Write the answer. trigger
Check. Mark totals and wording: check board.
Method. Check the order of events.
- Check the order. The statute came after the disease and was a response to it.after
- Decide. So it is a consequence.consequence
- Write the answer. consequence
Check. Mark totals and wording: check board.
Method. Find the effect of the disease that lasted.
- Find the effect. The disease killed many workers, so there were too few workers for years.too few workers
- Write the answer. Accept any answer naming the labour shortage after the Black Death.
Check. A long-term cause builds up over time.
Method. Subtract the earlier year from the later year.
- Subtract. The revolt year minus the statute year gives the gap.1381 - 1351 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 1351 + 30 = 1381.
Method. Find the event that set the riot off.
- Find the event. The riot began when a stone was thrown at a window.stone thrown
- Write the answer. a stone thrown at a window
Check. This scenario is invented for practice.
Method. Define both, then give an example.
- Define. A necessary cause must be present; a sufficient cause is enough on its own.must be present; enough alone
- Example. For the fire, a spark in dry, flammable materials was necessary, and a bakery fire could be sufficient to start a blaze.spark, bakery fire
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that gives the difference and an example of a cause that was necessary or sufficient.
Check. Check fact: the example is a reasoned illustration, not a single fixed answer.
Method. Name a cause and give a criterion.
- Name. For example, the labour shortage after the Black Death.labour shortage
- Reason. It lasted for years, which made the wage grievance build up.duration
- Write the answer. Accept any answer naming the labour shortage after the Black Death or the poll taxes, with a reason based on how long the cause lasted or how directly it led to revolt.
Check. A reason uses a criterion, not just a position.
Method. Build the chain from the trigger outwards.
- Chain. Timber houses close together → fire spreads with strong wind → houses burn.three links
- Trigger. The bakery fire on Pudding Lane started the blaze.bakery fire trigger
- Write the answer. Accept any chain with three links from wind, dry weather, timber houses and the fire starting in a bakery, with the bakery fire named as the trigger.
Check. A chain needs arrows and a clear trigger.
Method. Write the chain with linking words.
- Link 1. The shortage raised wages.raised wages
- Link 2. So the government passed the Statute of Labourers to fix wages.Statute of Labourers
- Link 3. The statute increased anger, which led to the revolt.anger, revolt
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that shows a chain: shortage, higher wages, Statute of Labourers, anger, revolt.
Check. Each link is linked by a word such as so or because.
Method. Choose two criteria, apply them to the trigger and the long-term causes, then judge.
- Criteria. Use how direct the cause was and how long it lasted.direct; duration
- Trigger. The tax collection was the most direct cause of the protests.most direct
- Long-term. The labour shortage lasted for years and made the anger likely.lasted for years
- Judge. So the trigger is more direct, but the long-term causes were more necessary.balanced
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that makes a judgement, names the trigger (the tax collection or poll tax), argues for the long-term causes too, and reaches a conclusion.
Check. Mark totals and mark scheme: check board.