2E. Causes Of Crime Flashcards
Causes of crime in the medieval era
Famine- during the great famine of 1315-1317, harvests failed and food became scarce and people had to steal food to stay alive
Disease- diseases such as the Black Death which began in 1340s , resulted in farmland left unfarmed as farmers died, it also left many empty houses where criminals could hide
Increased taxation- when taxes increased on people who were already poor it sometimes led to revolt against the authorities. For example, the 1370s poll tax caused the peasants revolt in 1381
Warfare- destroyed buildings in towns and farmland in the countryside. Also, sometimes battling armies stole the food they needed from the local area they were based. E,g the Norman conquest in the 11th C and the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century
What percent of crimes in the medieval period were violent
20% as farming meant people had access to potential weapons like spades axes or sickles
Why was there an increase in economic pressures in the Tudor period
Population was growing faster than job’s becoming available, changing trade patterns and farming practises. As a result there was an increase in crime.
Years of Elizabeth’s Poor Laws
1598 and 1601
Population increase of England and Wales increase during the 16th Century
From 2.9million in 1500 to 4.3 million in 1600
Growth of economic pressures during the Tudor period (16th C)
Population increase- more competition for jobs and land
Unemployment- the cloth industry went into a slump several times in the 15th and 16th C when European ports were cut off from English trade during the hundred year’s war. As a result weavers and spinners lost their jobs and incomes. Also, Henry VII disbanded the private armies that had existed during the Wars of the Roses so many men lost their jobs. Also, nobles lost their wealth during these wars so began to employ fewer people on their land and estates
Tenant farmers- rented or leased land of wealthy nobles or merchants. This caused the cost of renting land to increase rapidly (rack renting) so deprived tenant farmers of their rented land. There were also many failed harvests in the 16th C causing rural de-population as people were forced to leave countryside and look for jobs in towns
Inflation
Dissolution of the monasteries= more unemployment amongst monks servants and labourers and a loss of help for the poor and sick they had previously provided.
Impact of religious change in the 16th Century
Henry VIII divorce crisis was the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation in England and Wales in the 1520s. A series of laws were then passed that separated the Church of England from the Catholic Church. Henry VIII became head of the Church of England and Wales instead of the Pope. Those who refused to accept his authority over the church were punished, many by execution as heresy was considered treason; therefore there was an increase in treason during this time. For example, in 1536 30000 people protested against Henry’s Changes in a rebellion known as the pilgrimage of grace and took control of York, Hull, Pontefract and Doncaster. Following these events 178 protesters were executed
How many were killed under Mary’s rule for for refusing to recant their views
283 burnt at the stake
Causes of religious crime under Elizabeth 1
Elizabeth created a religious settlement based on a return to moderate Protestantism. This made her supreme Governor of the church. Some catholics were deeply unhappy with this. Cardinal William Allen refused to take the oath of supremacy to accept Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of the church and he fled to Rome
Impact of religious change in the 17th C
James 1 ordered that Catholics who did not attend Church of England (Protestant) services they should be fined this led to Catholics opposing him more strongly for example the Gun powder plot of 1605. There was also increase of punishment for witchcraft as people’s lack of understanding caused them to blame bad things on the work of the devil. Furthermore there was an increase in Puritanism and it became heresy not to follow laws such as: playing football on Sunday was a crime, as was swearing, getting a haircut or beard trim on a Sunday, Christmas was abolished in 1652.
The pressures of industrialisation and urbanisation in the 18th and 19th C
Between1750and 1900 the population of England and Wales rose dramatically from 7 million to over 40 million. In 1750 most people lived in and worked in the countryside. By 1900, 80% lived in and worked in urban areas, in rookeries. These were overcrowded and full of disease and crime. It was easy for criminals to evade capture through the narrow, winding streets, alleyways and courts + it was easy to remain anonymous as in small pre-industrial villages people had known each other but in these new towns people did not making it easier to get away with crime.
Policing was ineffective
Poverty and poor living conditions led to many people resorting to crime to improve their basic needs. Industrial accidents were common. There was no compensation and a worker could be sacked if they could No longer work. Accidents therefore lead to families becoming destitute as a result they often turned to crime to survive. Orphans were common in industrial towns due to low life expectancy so often committed crimes such as petty theft to survive. Also, most workers had no political rights and so no legal way to change their living and working Conditions so often gathered in small groups to protest about their living and working conditions.
Causes of rural crime in 18th and 19th C
The Industrial Revolution caused machines such as threshing machines to put men out of work. Rural poverty was high and Farm labourers had low wages and long hours.
When bread prices were high many struggled to survive so turned to Poaching which was punishable by transportation or even execution. The swing riots of 1830-1831, agricultural labourers resorted to machine breaking and rioting in the south east of England
Cause of Highway robbery in the 18th C
During the Industrial Revolution Foreign trade increased. Many of the good produced in Britain were transported abroad so transport improved through the introductory turnpike roads, canals and the development Of the railways. This provided opportunity for Highway robbery
Other causes: more people travelling, roads went through open, isolated areas such as towns deserted after the Black Death, after the Napoleonic wars many ex-soldiers struggled to find work so turned to highway robbery. Horses and guns were cheap and accessible due to industrial and agricultural changes, there were few banks so merchants would carry a lot of valuables on them
Causes of smuggling in the 18th C
Excise and custom duties were high in the 18th C because the Government was trying to raise money for a war with France
Continuation of existing crimes in the 29th century
Crime rates of murder, robbery and assault increased sharply,y in the 20th Century as more crimes were being detected reported and recorded by police. Crime rates have begun to fall in the 21st Century. Crime linked with cars is now becoming one of the most common types of crime in Britain
