Crime and punishment topic 2 Flashcards
What were crimes exclusively in the medieval period
Hunting deer, cutting down trees for fuel, scolding, vagrancy, treason, heresy
What was scolding
The use of offensive and abusive speech in public
What was another condition treason included
Killing your husband also counted as treason according to the 1351 Treason Act
Give examples of rebellions during the medieval period
The Peasants Revolt in 1381(against the poll tax)
Jack Cade’s Revolt in 1450
The Cornish Rebellion in 1497 (attempt to overthrow Henry VII)
How many vagrants did Londons Bridewell Prison deal with in 1600
550
Give three types of vagrants
Doxy, Abraham man, counterfeit crank
What were the reasons for smuggling in the 18th century
Cost of war, custom duties(tax on imported/exported goods), demand for smuggled goods, it earned good money
What were the five operators at each level of smuggling
The venturer, the spotsman, the lander, the tubmen, and the batsmen
What did the venturer do
He was the wealthy individual/group that paid for the smuggling and was paid for the profits
Who was the spotsman
The local expert who showed ships where to land smuggled goods without being caught.
What did the lander do
Organised small boats to get the smuggled goods to shore and organised transport to carry them away
What did the tubsmen do
The lifting and carrying of smuggled goods
What did the batsmen do
Protected the tubsmen from customs officials
What two acts were passed to attempt to reduce smuggling
Hovering Act 1718
Act of Indemnity 1736
What did the Hovering Act involve
It was illegal for vessels smaller than 50 tons to wait within 6 miles of the shore, the punishment for smuggling became being transported to the colonies
What did the Act of Indemnity involve
Death penalty for injuring preventative officers in the course of their duty, heavy fines for bribery and a free pardon to a smuggler who revealed the names of other smugglers
Why did smuggling activity decrease
Because the high duties and tax on foreign goods was decreased, for example in 1784 the duty on tea went from 119% to 12.5%, making it unprofitable for smugglers
How did the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars add to the decline in smuggling
Fear of invasion meant there was more lookouts along the coast and these doubled as lookout posts to catch smugglers. Trade was also restricted with France.
Why was there an increase in highway robbery in the 18th century
Unpoliced roads, increased travel, limited banking(people had to carry cash with them), increased wealth among some
What were the two types of highway robbers
Highway men - attacked coaches on horses, considered socially superior to the footpads
Footpads - didn’t have horses, robbed pedestrian travellers
Why did highway robbery decline in the 18th century
Greater use of banknotes which were more traceable than coins
London became better policed
JPs refused to allow taverns that were popular with highway men to stay open
What were types of criminals in the 19th century(industrial era)
Buzzers, drag-sneaks, snoozers, thimble-screwers
What did the buzzer do
Stole handkerchiefs from gentlemen’s pockets
What did drag-sneaks do
Stole luggage or goods from carts or coaches
