crime n punishment early modern era Flashcards
list 3 social changes in early modern era compared to middle ages
increase in population england became wealthier but majortiy were still poor religious change brought confusion printing press spread info landowners had greater influence political rebellions
what crimes did an increase in population increase
vagabondage
rebellion
increase in theft
what crimes did changes in economy increase
poaching
vagabondage
increase in theft
what crimes did the change in religion increase
witchcraft
heresy increase
what crimes did introduction of the printing press increase
vagaondage
witchcraft
what crimes did landowners having a greater influence increase
vagabondage
poaching
petty theft
what crimes did political rebellions increase
riots n rebellions
incidents of high treason
define vagabonds
demobilised soldiers, hardened criminals or unemployed people who wandered aimlessly and begged
give 2 reasons why the rich were afraid of the increase in vagabonds
- didn’t want to be scammes by outsiders
- some vagabonds committed crimes eg theft, assault
- didn’t want the ‘poor rate’ to increase (have to pay more money)
- exaggerated books spread the ‘dangers of vagabonds’
when does henry viii split the country from the catholic church
1534
when does mary i make the country catholic
1553
who planned to blow up the houses of parliament
hint - not guy fawkes
robert catesby
what was guy fawkes job
fill the vault with gunpowder
who was the anonymous letter sent to, then who was informed
lord monteagle. then he told robert cecil
where were the rest of the plotters arrested after guy fawkes confessed. and how were they punished
holbeach house
hanged drawn n quartered
when did witchcraft become a crime
laws were passed in 1542, 1563, 1604
when was witchcraft no longer a crime
1735
what was the witchcraft law about in 1563
differentiation between major and minor witchcraft crimes
what was the witchcraft law in 1604 about
became punishable by death
give one reason why there was a spike in witchcraft accusations in the early modern era
- 1500 to 1700 was apocalyptic and the ideas of hell and the devil was brought to the forefront of people’s minds
- printing press spread a lot exaggerated information (eg Kramer published a book)
give 3 factors that caused more people to be accused of witchcraft
increased population the mini ice age inflation disease religious warfare rising poverty failed harvests
what type of people were accused of witchcraft
mainly women aged 50 to 70
women beyond child bearing age were anti-mother
how were witches tried
- during assizes (court sessions)
- methods included swimming, thumb/head screws, leg clamps = torture
why did the witch hunt die down
give 2 reasons
judges began insisting on more secure evidence
decreasing social problems
less superstitious beliefs
who was matthew hopkins
- known as the witchfinder general, 25, from essex
- he hunted down witches and took them to court
when was matthew hopkins active
he began in 1645 and stooped in 1647
operated from the thorpe inn as he was the landlord
how did he accuse/investigate witches
- looked for strange marks
- pricked them to check if they felt pain
- sleep deprivation
- looked for ‘familiars’
how many witches was he responsible for accusing
250 were accused
100 executed
name 1 difference in early modern era law enforcement compared to middle ages
town watchmen
habeas corpus
name 3 continuities in early modern era law enforcement compared to middle ages
hue n cry posse parish constables rewards for finding criminals courts
name 1 slight change in early modern era law enforcement compared to middle ages
use of citizens
justices of the peace
benefit of the clergy
name 3 new methods of punishment used in early modern era
transportation
houses of correction
carting
ducking stool
name 3 continued methods of punishment in the early modern era (from the middle ages)
pillory n stocks
fines
whipping
prison used for people awaiting trial
when did transportation begin
1610
