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2. England's government and tax system developed to generally spread responsibilities across class lines. Everybody, aristocrat and pauper had some measure of tax burden all the way back to Anglo Saxon times. In general, the more you had, the more you paid. (Exceptions to this rule generally led to armed revolts like the one in section #1). In the late Medieval and Early Modern Periods, people tried to get out of being knighted, since it increased their tax burden. People over a certain minimum requirement were forced to become knights to help fund the government.

Aristocrats had a military obligation and acted as local magistrates. The idea that power and responsibility went together was built in to the system, although it was easily prone to abuse. After the Magna Carta, the Nobility was guaranteed a say in big issues like war and taxation, thus parliament began to form. Eventually, it made sense to include "local notables," since people are much less likely to protest if they think they had a say. Basically, they had the House of Commons rubber stamp the tax bill and then made them go back and explain the tax to their neighbors. Over time, parliament got more powerful and acquired competence in other areas. This allowed the system to become more flexible. A king could be deposed and government would go on just the same. As the commons got more power, the illusion of local control got stronger and the rebellions got smaller. (You got a few counties rioting instead of all of Cornwall marching on London).

Over the course of time (15th century on) a separate court system from the manorial courts began to develop, giving people some recourse from the worst abuses. (The "Star Chamber" was an early Tudor attempt to set up an independent court to settle land disputes between peasants and nobility). No, it wasn't fair, but it was a start.