Lectures on Tap - "Medieval England's Greatest Rebellion: The Real History"

📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email

🧠 Lecture: "Medieval England's Greatest Rebellion: The Real History"

🎤 Speaker: Dr. John J Murphy

In 1381, a ragtag army of farmers, priests, and artisans marched on London, executed royal officials, and forced a 14-year-old king to negotiate on their terms. What happens when a generation of overtaxed, plague-surviving workers finally realizes it has all the leverage?

Ahead of Focus Features’ new historical epic The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield as rebel leader Wat Tyler, join us for a pint and a deep dive into medieval England’s most legendary rebellion. We’ll separate Hollywood drama from real history, unpack how a flat-rate poll tax sparked a revolution, and explore why the crown remained terrified of poll taxes for the next 600 years. Grab a beer, leave your pitchforks at home, and discover the true story behind the uprising.

Dr. John J Murphy is a Chicago-based historian, educator, and lecturer who has taught with the City Colleges of Chicago and developed and trained teachers through Teach For America. His work focuses on historical context—how people, ideas, events, and circumstances shape the cultures we inherit and consume today.

Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌

Agenda

6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key.

6:55 PM – Host introduction

7:00 PM – Lecture begins

7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round

8:30 PM – Wrap up.