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.