Crime In Early Modern England Flashcards
Which crimes against authority increased and why?
Heresy and treason because the religion and monarchs of the country kept changing
Why did heresy and treason become interlocked? And what was the punishment for heresy?
Monarchs became the head of the church, and the punishment was burning at the stake for men and beheading for women and nobiliry
What is witchcraft and when was it made punishable by death?
The practice of magic and supernatural activities and it was made punishable by death in 1542 by henry VIII.
Why were new laws passed on witchcraft and give an example of one?
Public fear increased, so laws had to be put in place. For example, in 1604, james passed the Witchcraft and Conjuration Act state, and this was the death penalty to anyone summoning evil spirits. Minor witchcraft offences would mean a year in prison
What was vagrancy and why was it happening?
The rising population and fewer jobs meant more people were moving around looking for jobs, homeless, and resorted to thieving, and they were known as vagrants.
How did people view the vagabonds?
They hated and feared by the public and were viewed as lazy and responsible for their own problems
In 1576, Houses of correction were made. What were they?
Built in every country to punish and employ persistent beggars. This was an early type of prison where vagabonds were whipped and made to work
Give an example of a law against vagrants and what does this show?
In 1494, the Vagabonds and beggars act sent them to stocks for 3 days and nights (intended to huniliate them, as they were publicly locked), then sent back to where they were born or well known. This shows that the government thought they were to blame for many crimes
When did the crime of smuggling increase and why?
In the 17th century, when import tax was added to things after more luxury goods were being imported into the country, the crime of smuggling increased dramatically. This is because people didn’t want to pay the import tax as it went to the government. If it was smuggled, there was no tax on it
How was smuggling viewed as a crime?
A social crime and people didn’t view it as serious or a threat, making it very difficult to prevent
