Crime and Punishment (Early Modern Period) Flashcards
What effect did population growth have?
Higher unemployment and poverty rate
T/F: crime was increasing in the early modern period
False: people got the false idea that it was increasing due to the introduction of the printing press when studies actually show it was decreasing
What was the country’s economic state in the Early Modern Period?
Overall England was wealthier but the wealth was in the hands of a few rich individuals, poor people were very vulnerable and when Henry VII made it illegal for anyone else to own an army many men were left unemployed
What was the bloody code?
A series of laws that made over 205 crimes punishable by death
What key historical event occurred in the early modern period?
The English civil war where the people beat the King and executed, this caused a feeling of unease
What key religious event occurred in the early modern period?
The reformation
What is a vagabond?
Someone with no job who travelled the country for money
Why were people so opposed to vagabonds?
They thought that vagabonds were un-Christian and associated them with crime as it is thought that that was what they did for money, people did not want to have to pay for vagabonds when they already had to pay money to the King and the church to help the poor
How did people deal with vagabonds?
Whipping, slavery, branding, execution and houses of correction
Who were many vagabonds?
Ex-military men who had been injured or discharged and could not get re-employed
Under Henry VIII who was allowed to beg?
Henry VIII separated those living in poverty into the ‘undeserving poor’ who were not allowed to beg and the ‘deserving poor’ who could
Key Knowledge:
Edward VII was very harsh on vagabonds where as Elizabeth I’s laws included the ‘poor rate’
What were some continuation in the early modern period?
Minor crimes such as: petty theft, owing money, selling underweight goods, cheating at cards and major crimes such as: murder, theft or assault
Who were parish constables?
They were the main defence against crime, they had no uniform or weapons but were allowed to whip vagabonds and were expected to detain suspects until they were tried
Why was the hue and cry less effective in the early modern period?
Villages and towns grew bigger meaning it was much easier for criminals to hide
What did town watchmen and sergeants do?
They were expected to arrest drunks and vagabonds as well as enforcing general law and order
What role did citizens play in early modern law enforcement?
If someone committed a crime it was down to them to get the required arrest warrant from a magistrate and arrest the suspect
Who were Justices of Peace?
They were established in the middle ages but became more relied upon in the early modern period, they heard local/minor court cases at manor courts and could pass minor punishments such as fines, public humiliation or whipping
What were quarter sessions?
4 times a year all the JPs would meet to discuss more serious crimes and it was here that they were able to pass the death penalty
What were County Assizes?
When Royal Judges would visit local courts twice a year to handle the most serious offences
Why was Benefit of the Clergy ended?
In the 1600s most people could read and so they were able to cheat the benefit of the clergy
When was the Habeus Corpus passed and what does it mean?
1679 - translation ‘you have the body’
What did the Habeus Corpus do?
This act made it illegal to lock up a person indefinitely without any evidence that they were guilty but some people would make up evidence to cheat it
Why were executions carried out in public?
Deterrence
How many crimes were punishable by death in 1815?
225
What was the pillory?
Criminals had their head and arms locked in a wooden block all day whilst people threw rotten food and mud at them, if they really disapproved of their crime they would throw rocks sometimes leading to death
What were Houses of Correction?
Also known as ‘bridewells’ they were earl prisons where inmates were made to do hard labour
What sort of people were Houses of Correction used for and why did they have to do hard labour?
People in bridewells could include vagabonds, unmarried mothers and repeat offenders - they had to do hard labour to teach them the value of work
What were goals?
These were used to keep prisoners before their trial - not used as a punishment
Define carting
A form of punishment where the criminal is put into a cart and dragged around town whilst people scolded and threw stuff at them - used as a form of public humiliation
