c1500-1700 punishment in early modern england

Question 1

Early prisons

Answer 1

In the 16th century prisons were deemed as a ‘holding pen’ for criminals awaiting trial for petty crimes. This changed later throughout the century due to the introduction if a new type of prison such as Bridewell prison in 1556. Prison was now a punishment and prisoners now partaken in hard manual labour to encourage a habit of work.

Question 2

Bloody Code

Answer 2

The ‘Bloody Code’ was the name given to the English legal system from the late 17th century to the early 19th century. During this time period the number of crimes punishable by death expanded massively.

The idea behind this was to provide a deterrence to reduce the growing crime rate of the early modern period. However the system was flawed as crimes were committed out of poverty and desperation.

Question 3

Transportation to North America

Answer 3

During the reign of James I, the introduction of transportation to America became a new punishment. Criminals were either sentenced to 7 or 14 years and were then released.

50000-80000 men, women and children were sent in colonies to North America. Reasons for this were the rehabilitation of criminals which also acted as a deterrent.

Question 4

The Gunpowder Plotters

Answer 4

The gunpowder plotters received the harshest punishment for committing the most severe crime at the time: treason.

The plotters were sentenced in January 1606 and were hung, drawn and quartered.

Reasons of this were a necessary deterrent due to political instability of the time and also a clear message to Catholic plotters to protect Protestant monarchs