18th & 19th Century Britain Flashcards
Urbanisation
In 1750 there was 9.5 million people living in villages, by 1900 there was 41.5 million people living in towns and cities.
Industrialisation
Many jobs created due to industrialisation, development of industry.
Harvest failure
Poor harvest didn’t have much of an effect on people, could import food from other countries.
Attitudes towards crime and punishment
Changed a lot, prison became main punishment. Punishment focused more on reformation instead of deterrence.
When was the first formal police force created?
1829, Met.
Highway robbery
- huge threat to the authorities a it disrupted trade
- demobilised soldiers had no job so they resorted to stealing goods for resales
- horses & weapon were much cheaper to obtain, more businessmen were travelling around the country
Impact of toll roads
Better roads which you had to pay to travel on, made travelling easier. Businessmen completing transactions carried large amounts of £ and expensive items, easy target.
Laws on poaching
- only landowners with land £100+ could hunt on their land
- wasn’t a new crime but was widely tolerated
- had an impact on rich landowners that didn’t want people to be accessing their land and hunting their animals
What was the Black Act and when did it start?
1723, made hunting deer, hare or rabbits a capital crime. Found out at night armed, disguised or with a blackened face -> prosecuted for poaching.
Smuggling
- coastal areas of England where smugglers brought tea, wine, cloth and spirits into the country, avoiding the payment of tax on the goods
- crime because tax was an important income for government
- smugglers would resort to violence
- attracted people, good source of income and luxury items
How many people would be in a smuggling gang?
50-100, would outnumber officials sent to try and stop them
Aftermath of French Revolution
Fear of revolt and uprising in England. Government were extra vigilant looking for signs of conspiracy and plotting.
Tolpuddle martyrs
Group of farm labourers who were unhappy with their wages and wanted to improve working conditions.
Who led the Tolpuddle Martyrs
George Loveless
What did the Tolpuddle Martyrs keep secret?
A union, swore on oath to keep it a secret and help one another.
How did the Tolpuddle Martyrs union caught?
Secret oath was leaked to the rich landowners.
What was the punishment for Tolpuddle martyrs?
7 years transportation.
What were the changes to attitudes to punishment?
- juries unwilling to find people guilty and sentence them to death
- people thought the punishments were unfair for the crime
- criminals were more confident in avoiding the death penalty
Changes to death penalty
1700s -> 40% sentenced to earth were actually hanged. Dropped to 10% in 1800s, despite rise in crime.
Transportation to the colonies
Transportation to America ended in 1775 when America secured independence. Captain James cook discovered Australian as an alternative.
Journey of transportation
Kept on prison hulks while being chained together to do hard labour. Was a 9 month journey, you would be settled with a master. Experience depended on who you worked for.
What was ‘ticket of leave’
Allowing you to return to England due to good behaviour.
Prison system
Everyone was housed together; men, women, children, debtors and lunatics - regardless of the crime committed.
Prison wardens
Were unpaid and earned money by charging the inmates fees for their cell, food, clothing and their release.
Conditions in prison
Poor relied on charities to pay prison fees, rich forded single cels. Damp, dirty and dangerous.
John Howard 1726-90
- inspected prisons
- wrote a report on state of prisons
Where did John Howard inspect prisons?
Bedfordshire.
When did John Howard write a report?
1777
What were the proposals of John Howard?
- Better accommodation.
- Changes to the fees.
- Improving diet.
- Paying prison guards.
Elizabeth Fry 1780-1845
- a Quaker with strong religious views, everyone had good in them, wanted to further reform prisons
- horrified to see inmates kept together regardless of crime
- dealt with this and exploitation of female prisoners by male guards
What prison did Elizabeth Fry visit?
Newgate Prison in London.
When were separate systems introduced?
1830s
What was a separate and silent systems?
Inmates were kept in solitary confinement, limited contact with others and to reform prisoners by expected them to complete useful work.
Changing attitudes to retribution
- 1860s attitudes reform -> retribution
- prisoners expected to remain silent at all times
- bed replaced with wooden bunks
- better food replaced with a basic poor diet
- hard labour, prisoners did pointless tasks like turning a crank
The Fielding Brothers
Henry and John who were magistrates who tried to improve policing.
Where did Henry and John Fielding work?
Bow Magistrates Court in 1748, decided if there were more men on the street they can reduce crime.
The Bow Street Runners
Established in 1749, patrolled the streets in the evening.
What did the Horse Patrol do?
Eliminated highway robbery.
What was the bow street runners newspaper called?
Hue and cry, published names and details of a criminal to get the public to catch them.
Robert Peel
Home Secretary in 1822, aim was to improve life for people by reducing crime.
What did Robert peel do to persuade politicians?
Used crime statistics to show a formal police was needed, persuaded them it wouldn’t be a threat to their freedoms.
Developments in the Metropolitan Police
- 1842 -> first detective force established
- 1856 -> compulsory for towns and counties to have police force
- 1878 -> criminal investigation department established
- 1884 -> 200 separate police forces, employed 39,000 officers
Design of Pentonville prison
Central area, prison wings were spokes from the centre so fewer guards were needed to run the prison.
Activities in pentonville
Exercised in the yard wearing masks to avoid them being able to communicate with others. Chapel was constructed with boxes for inmates to sit in whilst in Church to again avoid contact with others.
‘Useful work’
Cells contained a bed and weaving loom for work.
Why did the prisoners do ‘useful work’
To prepare them for when they were released.
How many prisons did the goals act apply to?
130
How were prisoners classified? (Gaols act)
According to their crimes, male and female prisoners would be separated.
Hygiene in prisons (gaols act)
Should have access to fresh water, fresh air and good food.
Staff in prisons (gaols act)
Prison wardens were paid, local magistrates would visit regularly to ensure wardens were doing a good job.
Religious instruction (gaols act)
Attending church and receiving religious instruction would be a large part of the inmate’s time in prison.
Negative consequences of isolating prisoners in Pentonville
- inmates went mad
- inmates had nervous breakdowns
- inmates committed suicide
In what year was the gaols act passed?
1823
