The Evil May Day riot was the culmination of mounting social and economic pressures, along with nationalist and xenophobic sentiments:

1. Economic Competition: English workers felt undercut by foreign laborers who were often preferred by employers for lower wages and sometimes greater skills. This fueled anger and jealousy.
    

2. Political Climate: Henry VIII was a young king, newly ascended in 1509, and the Tudor court was still consolidating its power. Tensions were high among different factions vying for influence.
    

3. Cultural and Religious Differences: Foreigners brought their own customs and languages, which sometimes led to suspicion and cultural clashes.
    

4. Triggering Events: Rumors circulated that foreign merchants and workers were planning to kill English residents, further inflaming public fears.
    

The Riot Begins: May Day, 1517

The riot exploded on May 1, 1517, a traditional day of celebration marking the arrival of spring. Usually marked by festivities and parades, May Day instead became a day of violence.

• Outbreak: Crowds of angry English apprentices and laborers gathered in the streets of London, particularly in areas with large foreign populations such as Eastcheap and Cheapside.
   

• Attacks: The rioters targeted foreign merchants and their homes, smashing windows, looting shops, and assaulting foreigners. Many fled the city to escape the violence.
   

• Spread: The disorder quickly spread to several parts of London, with mobs shouting nationalist slogans and demanding the expulsion of all foreigners. shutdown123