Week Two - The Bloody Code

Question 1

How many crimes carried the death penalty in 1688?

Answer 1

50

Question 2

How many crimes carried the death penalty in 1800?

Answer 2

200

Question 3

What are some examples of crimes people were hung for between 1774-6?

Answer 3

Court records show people were hung for arson, cattle stealing, ‘destroying silk on a loom’, ‘wilfully wounding a horse’, sheep stealing, swearing false oathes, ‘impersonating another to receive a seaman’s wage’ etc

Question 4

What happened in the 50 years between 1749-1799?

Answer 4

Over half of the capitally convicted were reprieved

Question 5

How did juries feel about sending petty criminals to the gallows?

Answer 5

Juries were increasingly reluctant to send petty criminals to the gallows

Question 6

What were the views of the middle class?

Answer 6

There was concern amongst the middle classes (who were sitting on the juries) that the punishment should fit the crime