AC1.2

Question 1

Name 3 laws that change due to time

Answer 1

homosexuality
Drug laws
Laws concerning physical punishment

Question 2

When was homosexuality made illegal

Answer 2

1885

Question 3

What was the maximum sentence regarding homosexuality in 1885

Answer 3

Life

Question 4

What year was homosexuality legalised to people 21+ in England and wales

Answer 4

1967

Question 5

What years did Scotland and Ireland join in legalising homosexuality

Answer 5

1980 for Scotland
1982 for ireland

Question 6

What year was homosexuality’s age of consent lowered to 18

Answer 6

1994

Question 7

What year was homosexuality’s age of consent lowered to 16 - to match the heterosexual one

Answer 7

2000

Question 8

What reasons did the homosexuality laws change

Answer 8

The wolfenden report
Campaigns
Politicians

Question 9

Who was the wolfenden report set up under

Answer 9

Sir John wolfenden

Question 10

What was the wolfenden report ?

Answer 10

There was an increase of prosecutions gay men after the Second World War, leaving over 1000 in prison by 1954
Following several trials of well known figures for homosexual acts, the government set up a committee to consider reforming the law

Question 11

Give an example of a campaign

Answer 11

Campaign for homosexual equality led to eventually equalising the age of consent for homosexual men to 16

Question 12

What did the Campaign for homosexual equality lead to

Answer 12

led to eventually equalising the age of consent for homosexual men to 16

Question 13

How did politicians help

Answer 13

People such as Roy Jenkins supported the campaign for change and as home secretary he introduced the necessary legislation in 1967

Question 14

What drug law changed over time

Answer 14

The Portuguese drug laws

Question 15

In what year was possession of drugs changed from a crime to a civil offense

Answer 15

2001

Question 16

What happened in 2001 in regard to the Portuguese drug laws

Answer 16

possession of drugs changed from a crime to a civil offense

Question 17

What did this Portuguese drug law apply to

Answer 17

It applies to both “hard” drugs, such as heroin, and “soft” drugs, such as cannabis

Question 18

During the years 1930 and 1975 what was happening in Portugal ?

Answer 18

During the years 1930 to 1975 Portugal was considered a “closed” and strictly regulated place, where Coca Cola was banned and you had to get a cigarette license

Question 19

What happened in 1975

Answer 19

Portugal became a democracy and the increased openness for the country caused an influx of drugs which caused an outbreak of HIV from sharing heroin needles

Question 20

Why did the law change

Answer 20

Due to the increase in drugs by 1990 every 1 in 100 people were addicted to heroin so to avoid this drugs were regarded as a public health issue aimed at harm reduction rather than an issue for the criminal justice system- current drug users are referred to health and other support services rather than being prosecuted

Question 21

What has changed since the law change

Answer 21

Deaths from drugs had fallen to 4 out of a million which is the lowest in Europe, comparing to 44 out of a million in the uk