18th Century - 19th Century C+P Flashcards
how long was the period of 18th and 20th century Britain?
1700-1900
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN:what new crimes were there?
- Poaching
- Highway robbery
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what new punishments were there?
- Transportation to AUSTRALIA
- Prison (more widely used)
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what new policing methods were there?
- A POLICE FORCE
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what crimes were no longer considered a crime? (changing definitions)
HERESY:
- Religious UNCERTAINTY has passed
- The LAST EXECUTION for heresy in 1612
VAGABONDAGE:
- in 1700-1900 there was a GENERAL INCREASE IN WEALTH so the FEARS DECREASED
WITCHCRAFT:
- Most educated people were LESS LIKELY TO BELIEVE accusations
- In 1736 witchcraft laws were REPEALED
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was highway robbery?
- BEGAN at the same time as the CIVIL WAR (1642-1649)
- In some areas it reached EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS
- It was punishable by DEATH since c16th
- It posed a MAJOR DISRUPTION to TRADE
- Highway men were often GLAMORISED
- It was most common AROUND LONDON and the MAIN ROUTES there
- It was a SOCIAL CRIME
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why did people poach?
- Small landowners and tenats often IGNORED the law and would poach to SUPPLEMENT LOW WAGES
- Some did poach for ENTERTAINMENT
- Most poachers MADE MORE from poaching than THEIR JOBS
- There were ORGANISED GANGS who supplied the BLACK MARKETS
- DEMAND increased as the population increased and do did profits
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: how were poachers punished?
- DEATH PENALTY
- Those who INFORMED on poachers were REWARDED but they were generally HATED
- People would LIE in court to PROTECT POACHERS
- If you were found with DOGS OR SNARES you could be FINED
- MANY LAWS WERE REPEALED IN 1823
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was poaching made a capital crime?
- There was NO POLICE FORCE
- Prisons WEREN’T a DETERRENT
- To SCARE people
- Towns made it DIFFICULT TO POLICE
- TO PROTECT THE WEALTHY
- People didn’t think the laws were fair
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why did people smuggle?
- Was a quick way to EARN 6/7 TIMES the daily wage
- It offered an ALTERNATIVE LIVING
- You were UNLIKELY TO BE CAUGHT
- All social classes smuggled
- People didn’t want to pay the IMPORT TAX
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was the issue with smuggling?
- Britain is an island –> LOTS OF COASTLINES
- It INCREASED 1740-1850
- It REDUCED THE GOVERNMENTS INCOME from tax and duties
- The DUKE OF RICHMOND was asked to SQUASH the gangs so he hung 35 but there were at least 20000
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: Why did smugglers get away with it?
- Customs officials FEARED SMUGGLERS
- They were KNOWN to be VIOLENT AND WELL-ARMED and had LITTLE FEAR of CUSTOMS OFFICERS
- If they were charge MAGISTRATES EXPECTED TO BE KILLED
- LOW PAY JUSTIFIED crime
- People DISLIKED the tax
- Gangs CONTROLLED areas
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why were their fears surrounding trade unions?
- The FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789
- The government was scared as every PROTEST could lead to UPRISING
- They saw the GNCTU (a trade union) as SUSPICIOUS
- Employers didn’t want to give WORKERS RIGHTS
- Employers were suspicious of trade unions because there was a THREAT of having a LARGE GROUP demanding from them as trade unions WEREN’T IN THE INTEREST OF THE RICH
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: who were the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
- A TRADE UNION
- They wanted their employer to RAISE THEIR PAY after several cuts
- They were TRANSPORTED TO AUSTRALIA for a 7 YEAR sentence
- The government CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF A CRIME to include an OATH SWORN as being part of a UNION WASN’T ILLEGAL
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why were the Tolpuddle Martyrs punished so harshly?
- POVERTY AND WEALTH:
- there was a BIG DIVIDE between the rich and poor
- GOVERNMENT:
- they MANIPULATED the LAW to suit them
- ATTITUDES IN SOCIETY:
- Workers were expected to OBEY EMPLOYERS