Nature of Crimes Flashcards
3 types of crime against
Crime against a person (Assault, murder)
Crime against authority (Treason)
Crime against a property (Shoplifting, burglary)
Common crimes in the Medieval Era
Breaking Forest Laws
Theft
Being part of an outlaw gang
Vagrancy
Forest Laws
The Norman kings claimed ownership of all forests and everything in them.
As a result, cutting down trees for firewood or for building, or hunting without permission, were serious crimes.
What law did Edward I pass to combat theft?
He passed a law in 1275 that said that thieves would be executed.
What percentage of crimes did theft make up in the medieval era?
75%
The Counterfeit Crank
These people pretended to have violent fits and sucked on soap to make themselves froth at the mouth.
The Clapper Dudgeon
These people cut their skin to make it bleed and then covered it with dirty rags. Some children were deliberately mutilated by their parents to get more money from passers-by.
Angler/Hooker
These people carried a long wooden stick and would knock on people’s doors during the day to see what they could steal. They would then return after dark with a hook attached to the end of the stick. They would use the stick to steal items through windows. These items could then be sold.
1547 Vagrancy Act
Any able-bodied person who had been out of work for more than three days should be
branded with a V and sold into slavery for two years.
Most common crime in the medieval era
Theft
Why did rates of smuggling decline in the late 18th century?
Smugglers were often executed as a deterrent to others.
The GOVt reduced the taxes on tea and other goods in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As a result, smuggling declined as it was no longer so profitable.
Common crime in the 18th century
Robbery
Who is the most well known highwayman in Britain?
Dick Turpin
What did Dick Turpin do?
He stole cattle, burgled houses and stole money from people.
Why did rates of highway robbery decline?
-The Bow Street Horse Patrol actively targeting highwaymen after 1763
-JPs beginning to refuse to license inns and taverns that provided highwaymen with sanctuary
-Urbanisation leading to fewer isolated stretches of road
-Development of banking and people carrying less money