The Bloody Code

Question 1

What was the dramatic increase in population between 1500 and 1700?

Answer 1

It helped bring new opportunities for criminals. The population of England in 1500: around 2 and a half million and by 1700: 5-6 million.

Question 2

Why were crimes like theft and fraud more common and what did this mean?

Answer 2

Life was more anonymous than in villages (where everyone knew each other) & there were more valuable goods readily available to steal. This meant it became harder for the authorities to prevent crime & catch criminals.

Question 3

What were the 3 opportunities for crime in 17th century London?

Answer 3

1 - Increased wealth meant more valuable goods in homes & businesses
2 - Some more wealthier than others meant highly visible target for robbery
3 - Crowded places meant more opportunity for theft and pickpocketing

Question 4

What helped cope with the increased crime rates?

Answer 4

The role of town constables and night watch who h were the early steps towards a professional paid police force.

Question 5

What was the role of a night watchman?

Answer 5

They were unpaid volunteers who also have to do their normal jobs to earn a living in the day and were expected to serve as night watchman as part of the duties of all male citizens.

Question 6

What was the role of a town constable?

Answer 6

Appointed by local people with good standing in the community. Had some powers to arrest suspects, without the needs for a warrant from a Justice of the Peace.

Question 7

What’s an example of a ‘thief taker’?

Answer 7

Jonathan Wild- infamous thief taker who’s secretly led a gang of thieves who claimed rewards when they handed in the stolen goods.

Question 8

What were early prisons?

Answer 8

They were usually not purpose-built: they were often just a secure room in the local castle or a gatehouse.

Question 9

What were the conditions like in the prisons?

Answer 9

Very poor- inmates had to pay for basic needs, women, men and children housed together, prisons were dirty and unhealthy with no proper sanitation- caused diseases.

Question 10

What happened to younger prisoners?

Answer 10

They were often bullied and abused, or schooled into becoming more serious criminals on their release.

Question 11

What was the Bridewell prison in 1556 used for?

Answer 11

It was used to punish poor people who had broken the law and to house poor children who were homeless and often orphaned.

Question 12

What were inmates made to do?

Answer 12

‘Hard labour’ to pay for their keep and to encourage habits of hard work.

Question 13

What happened to the number of crimes that carried the death penalty in 17th century?

Answer 13

It increased.

Question 14

How many capital crimes were there by 1688?

Answer 14

50

Question 15

What crimes were punishable by death?

Answer 15

Crimes that were minor eg.poaching rabbits, or fish to eat.

Question 16

What was the intention of calling this harsh attitude to law-making the ‘Bloody Code’?

Answer 16

To create a strong deterrent so that crime rates would be reduced- but the system was flawed and ineffective.

Question 17

Why were many crimes committed?

Answer 17

They were committed out of desperation- somebody with a starving child did not think about the consequences of stealing a loaf of bread.

Question 18

How could criminals avoid being executed?

Answer 18

They could receive a pardon if they could prove their previous good character, or give reasons why they should not be executed.

Question 19

What did this do to the Bloody Code?

Answer 19

This made the message of the Bloody Code unclear

Question 20

What was the ‘plead for belly’?

Answer 20

Pregnant women condemned to death often made a ‘plead for belly’ asking to be allowed to live until the baby is born. The woman was examined by a. doctor and if he saw the baby was moving the punishment was delayed until after birth.

Question 21

How did pregnant women get away with being punished?

Answer 21

Often the woman was pardoned after the child was born, many escaped hanging this way.

Question 22

What was the new form of punishment- transportation?

Answer 22

Transported prisoners were taken in chains to he east coast of North America, where they would have to work for a fixed period doing tough manual labour- usually clearing trees or doing farm work.

Question 23

What criminals served how many years?

Answer 23

• Those who were transported instead of being executed, served 14 years.
• Others who had committed lesser crimes, served a 7 year sentence.

Question 24

What would happen to these prisoners after their sentence?

Answer 24

They would be freed, but with no money to pay for a return journey, they often spent the rest of their lives far from home, and might never see their friends or family again.

Question 25

What were the 3 main reasons transportation was favourited by authorities?

Answer 25

1 - It was seen as an effective deterrent
2 - England did not want to have an effective prison system- so prison was not a feasible alternative punishment
3 - England wanted to establish permanent colonies in North America- and convicts could be used to populate and provide manpower for these colonies

Question 26

What did people think were the benefits for this punishment?

Answer 26

That it allowed the possibility of rehabilitation. It was thought that criminals should have the chance to reflect on their crimes an change their way of life

Question 27

What helped especially children and young people make a new start?

Answer 27

Criminals were taken far from the people an places that might have drawn them into a life of crime in the first place which contributed to a change of scene for them.

Question 28

How many people were transported to America up to c1770?

Answer 28

Between 50,000 and 80,000.

Question 29

What did James I do in the 17th century?

Answer 29

He gave permission for vagrant children in London to be arrested and sent for transportation.

Question 30

Why was this encouraged?

Answer 30

The homeless were blamed for spreading plague and the authorities were happy to find solutions that led to their permanent removal.

Question 31

What were the children sent from Bridewell prison called?

Answer 31

These transported children were called ‘duty boys’- although around a quarter of them were girls.

Question 32

What in reality happened to these children?

Answer 32

While the authorities claimed this was an opportunity for the children to start a new life, in reality, many died, as conditions on board ship and in the colonies were extremely tough.