1500-1700 Early Modern England - Crime In Early Modern England Flashcards
What were the changes in society to do with population
increase in population and decline of feudalism led to higher unemployment - more people moved into urban areas searching for work o towns and cities grew
What did the society change with population lead to
Led to increase in crime against the person - increase of street criminals and petty thieves
What was the change in society to do with feudalism and farming
The end of feudalism + new farming methods led to enclosure of land (fencing it off for the exclusive use of the landowner)
What did the change in society for feudalism and farming lead to
Led to increase in crime against property eg = poaching - more landowners restricted those who could hunt on their land
What was the change in society to do with religious belief
Changes in peoples religious beliefs and the religion of the monarch
What did the change in society to do with religious beliefs lead to
Led to increase in crime against authority - more people committed heresy and high treason
What is high treason
The crime of plotting or acting to overthrow or harm the ruler or country
What’s heresy
The crime of having religious beliefs that were different to the official religion of the country
Who ruled early modern England
First it was ….
Then it was….
First - the tudors
Then - the stuarts
What led to an increase n crimes against authority
Religious change - many rebellions + plots against the monarch (treason and heresy)
Why were treason charges common
There more disputes about who should rule
Why were heresy charges common
The official religion of the country kept changing from catholic to Protestant
Who played a role in charging people with heresy AND judging wether they were guilty or not
Important members of the clergy
What happened when monarchs became head of the church
Heresy and treason became interlinked
When did heresy become a crime
1382
Why was heresy classed as a crime against authority
The church + monarch felt threatened by different beliefs
How was heresy punished
By being burned to death at the stake
The treason and heresy time line from 1547 - 1603
- 1509–>47 - Henry VIII executed Protestants for heresy throughout his reign and catholics for treason if they wouldn’t accept Henry as head of the church after 1534
- 1547–>53 - Edward VI executed leaders of rebellions for treason + 2 catholics for heresy
- 1553–>58 - Mary I executed leaders of plots to replace her and many Protestants (almost 300) for heresy
- 1558–>1603 - Elizabeth I executed many rebels or treason but far fewer for heresy
- 1603–>25 - James I executed catholics for treason
Example of treason
The gunpowder plot
Example of treason
The gunpowder plot
