Industrial Period: 1700 - 1900 Flashcards
What were causes for a high crime rate in the 18th and 19th century?
- More people moving into towns for work led to overcrowding
- People are less likely to be caught in larger towns
- Extreme poverty caused a rise in ‘survival’ crimes such as petty theft
- Easy travel via trains
What was London’s population by 1900?
4.5 million.
What was highway robbery?
Robbers on horseback who targeted stagecoaches. They usually were armed and masked.
Why did highway robbery increase?
1) Improved roads led to more travelling
2) Handguns were easier to obtain and horses were cheaper
3) Goods and money were transported by isolated roads
4) Lack of a police force
Who was a famous Highwayman?
Dick Turpin.
What law was passed to reduce highway robbery and when?
In 1772, the death penalty was introduced for anyone found armed and in disguise on a highway road.
What were some reasons for a decline in highway robbery?
1) Roads were improved and became busier, making it difficult for highwaymen to get away with their crimes.
2) Mounted Patrols protected highways and encouraged locals to give up information.
3) Developments in the banking system meant travellers didn’t carry large sums of money.
How did poaching change in the 18th and 19th century?
Poaching became more of a large-scale crime.
Due to this the 1723 Black Act was passed which made poaching punishable by death, made it illegal to ‘blacken’ your face for disguise and carry snares.
Why was the Black Act law unpopular?
- Poachers were poor people who needed food
- This law benefited the wealthy
- Death penalty was too harsh
What happened to the Black Act law in 1823?
It was repealed.
What is an example of a large smuggling gang in the industrial period?
The Hawkhurst Gang that operated along the south coast and smuggled large volumes of goods.
Why was smuggling hard to control?
- There were not enough customs officers to prosecute smugglers
- There were large areas of unpoliced coast
By the mid 1700s how many active smugglers were there?
About 20,000.
Why was smuggling seen as a social crime?
- Smugglers were regarded as heroes
- Locals benefitted from cheaper goods
- Many locals helped smugglers hide cargo and traded with them
What happened to the Witchcraft laws?
They were repealed in 1736. People who claimed to use magic were fined or imprisoned.
Why was Witchcraft no longer a crime?
- Supernatural beliefs were replaced with science
- Religion wasn’t as influencial
- There was more economic stability
Who were the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
They were a group of 6 labourers in the village of Dorset who were protesting about their low wages (6 shillings a week) in comparison to the average farm labourer’s 10 shillings a week.
What did the Tolpuddle Martyrs do after?
They formed a friendly society in 1833, an early form of a trade union and took a secret oath to protect their wages. However, the farm owners found out.
The 6 men were then arrested and found guilty of?
The men were found guilty of administering a secret oath and that they had broken an old law intending to stop naval mutinies. The government changed this to making all secret oaths illegal for their purpose.
How were the Tolpuddle Martyrs punished?
They received a maximum sentence to 7 years transportation to Australia (harshest available punishment) in attempt to deter others from joining unions.
