c1500-1700 Crime And Punishment- Early Modern England Flashcards
There were huge ______ and _______ changes between c1500 and c1700. These changes led to changes in the nature of crimes against the person, property and authority.
Social* Religious*
Increase in population and the decline of feudalism lead to higher unemployment, which meant more people moved to urban areas in search of work. This lead to increased crimes against the ______
The person, with the increase of street criminals and petty thieves
The end of feudalism and the new farming methods lead to enclosure of land (Fencing off land for the exclusive use of the landowner) this lead to more crimes against ______
Property, for example poaching, as more landowners restricted who could hunt on their land.
Changes in peoples religious beliefs and the religion of the monarch. This lead to the increase of crimes against ______
Authority, as more people committed heresy and high treason
When did Heresy become a crime?
1382
Why did heresy become a crime?
As both the church and the monarch felt threatened by different beliefs. It was classed as a crime against authority.
What was heresy normally punished by?
Death by burning at the stake
Why did crime against authority increase?
It was a time of religious change and many rebellions and plots against the monarch.
Why were treason charges more common?
There were more disputes over who should rule
Why was heresy more common?
Becuase the official religion kept changing from Catholic to Protestant then to catholic then back to Protestant. As monarchs became head of the church, treason and heresy became linked.
Key term: High treason
The crime of plotting or acting to overthrow or harm the ruler or country
Key term: heresy
The crime of having religious beliefs that were different form the official religion of the country
What is a vagabond/vagrant?
A unemployed homeless person.
When was a large increase in vagrants due to the increasing population, falling wages and rising food prices and no system to help the needy?
The late 15th and 16th centuries
Why did people hate the vagrants?
-Hated and feared by the settled population
-Resorted to thieving, begging and charity in order to survive. Which was resented by the population
-Viewed as lazy and responsible for their own problems
When did monasteries close?
1536
What’s a monastery?
a building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.
What year was the Vagabonds and beggars act?- vagabonds we’re out in sticks for three days and nights. Then sent back to where they were born or most known
1494
When was the Vagrancy act?- The able-bodied without work for more than three days were branded with a letter v and sold into slavery for two years, it was repealed because it was impossible to enforce
1547
When was the Act for the relief of the poor? - split vagrants into two categories, the deserving poor (elderly or disabled) and the undeserving (those fit to work)
1597
When were the poor laws out in place? - the deserving poor were given poor relief by the local parish; the undeserving could be whipped or sent to a correction house
1601
What’s a example of how the general population can put pressure on the government to make laws on what they feel should be classed as a crime?
Vagrancy
Why did smuggling increase dramatically?
Because import tax on certain good like brandy and tea was introduced in the 17th century
What is smuggling?
When people bring goods into the country secretly to avoid paying import tax and then sell it on.
Why is smuggling a social crime?
Many people didn’t see it as serious or as a threat, making it very difficult to enforce
In what year did Henry VII make witchcraft punishable by death?
1542
In what year did Elizabeth I change the laws so charges of witchcraft had to be tried in a common court?
1563
In what year did James I instruct the death penalty to anyone ‘summoning evil spirits”?
1604
c1500-1700, what methods became less effective?
Traditional methods of collective responsibility became less effective because the population was growing and a more organised system was put in place
Was there a national police force?
No
Was the hue and cry still there?
Yes
Did the justice system become more secular?
Yes
When were the churches not allowed to try criminal acts?
From 1576
Could you still claim benefit of the clergy?
Yes and you would receive a more lenient sentence
When was sanctuary abolished?
1623
What did watchmen do?
-Carried a lamp to light their way
-Rang a bell to alert people
-All male householders were expected to volunteer
-unpaid
Patrolled the streets between 10pm and dawn
-Overseen by town constable
What did town constables do?
-Employed by authorities in towns
-Respected members of the community
-Could arrest subjects and take them to the JP’s
-In charge of watchmen in their area
-Helped with town administration
What years were the witch hunts?
1645-47
What were witch hunts?
‘Witch-hunts’ were when people actively tried to discover witches
What years was the English civil war?
1642-51
Where were the witch-hunts most concentrated?
East of England
What happened to those convicted of witchcraft?
They were executed normally by hanging
Was was economic problems a factor in the intensity of the witch-hunts?
The civil war and poor harvests caused huge economic problems and people looked for scapegoats (someone to blame)
Why was Social changes a factor in the intensity of the witch-hunts?
The war left many women widowed or on their own. Also there was more ‘strangers’ around as people travelled with the armies or looked for work
Why was lack of authority a factor in the intensity of the witch-hunts?
The civil war weaker the control of local authorities. Some areas had law and order collapse completely
How did religious change affect the intensity of the witch-hunts?
Religious changes were increased by the civil war. Many puritans on the side of parliament believe that witchcraft was being used by the royalists, some of whom were Catholic
Why did influence of individuals add the intensity of the witch-hunts?
Since 1603 James I had promoted witch-craft, people like Matthew Hopkins stirred up fear with their writings as well as actually taking part in the witch hunting themselves
What did matthew Hopkins call himself?
The witch-finder general
Name 3 ‘evidences’ of witchcraft
-Unusual marks on the body
-Witness accounts
-When pricked with a needle the accused doesn’t bleed
-When thrown into water the accused floats
-Confessions from the accused
-if two proven witches swear the accused is a witch
-‘possessed’ children acting as accusers
What did James I’s book, demonologie, outline?
His belief in witches and how they should be found and tried, he was very superstitious and encouraged witch-hunts
In what years did Henry VIII execute Protestants for heresy and catholics for treason if they didn’t support him as head of the church?
1509-47
