Practise Questions

Question 1

Explain why they were changes in the prison system between 1700-1900

Answer 1

! Reformers - Elizabeth Fry + John howard !

• Quaker string religious background
• Visited woman in Newgate prison
• Witnesses two women pulling clothes off baby
• Exploitation by male wardens
• Encouraged quakers to set up prayer groups + she set up school - useful work eg. Sewing
• John - visited prisons in Bedfordshire
• Published 1777 - state of prisons in England and Wales
• Proposed separation of prisoners / healthy diet + accomodation

! Goals Act 1823 - Robert peel !

• Previously school of crime - pay to see doctors - pets - overcrowded
• Prisoners should be separated
• Female prisoners = female wardens
• Should visit chapel
• Magistartes must visit + inspect prisoners annually
• Wardens should be paid - no bribes

! Weaknesses of the separate system !

• Drove people mad - 41 became delusional + lunatics
• Too expensive
• SILENT SYSTEM -1960s
• Hard wooden bunks - no hammocks
• hard labour - pick oakum/ turn a crank 1000 times
• Punishments - whipping - put on a diet of bread and water

Question 2

Describe two features of the policing system in Whitechapel

Answer 2

• police officers walked a beat through area to deter + catch criminals. Every 15 min during night/ 30 min during day - 8-9 hour shifts
• policed by H division, under the control of the superintendent - he would have a force of inspectors/ sergeants + constables

Question 3

Explain one way in which law enforcement in the medieval period (c1000–c1500) was different from law enforcement during the modern period (c1900–present

Answer 3

Medieval - community based + present - centralised police force

Medieval - hue and cry/ tithings
Present - divisions/ met / 2015 - over 129,000 police officers

Question 4

Explain why new crimes were defined in the period from c1900 to the present day

Answer 4

L

Question 5

The role of religion was the main reason why there were changes in the number of accusations of witchcraft in the early modern period (c1500–c1700)

Answer 5

• religious beliefs

- Mathew Hopkins

Question 6

The use of public execution remained an important feature of the penal system in the years c1500–c1900.’

Answer 6

• gunpowder plotters
• transportation

Prisons

Question 7

Describe two features of accommodation for the poorer people in the Whitechapel area

Answer 7

• lodging houses were overcrowded - multiple families in each room - in flower and dean street - 300 people in 30 dosshouses
• many slum houses - little ventilation + hygiene - bathroom inside

Question 8

‘The role of local communities was the most important factor affecting law enforcement during the Middle Ages.’ How far do you agree?

Answer 8

• tithings/ hue and cry/ constables/ local jury - oath of compurgation
• church courts/ trial by ordeal

Question 9

The main purpose of punishment during the period c1000–c1700 was to deter people from committing crimes.’ How far do you agree

Answer 9

• corporal punishment - public humiliation/ multination - no police so deterrence was necessary
• transportation - functional society + fines - retribution - houses of correction

Question 10

Describe two features of life in the Whitechapel workhouses

Answer 10

• families were separated - different sections for men/women/ children - parent allowed to see child once a day
• life was deliberately unpleasant - very strict rules - dictating what time they had to wake up + sleep - men couldn’t smoke - woman couldn’t drink tea

Question 11

Explain one way in which the nature of punishment during the years c1500-c1700 was different from the nature of punishment in the period c1900-present

Answer 11

• 1500 - focused on deterrence - Public humiliation - stocks + pillories - underweight bread
• present - focused on rehabilitation - prison education programmes - made them ready for the real world + integrate into society - get a job