crime 1500-1750
religious reform
Types of crimes
punishments
vagabondage
crimes against a person
crimes against property
crimes against authority
change
continuity
change
continuity
change
continuity
not any severe changes
New crimes such as treason and heresy became more popular and likely to happen as authority became a lot stricter during this time period. Vagabondage (begging), also became a crime and witchcraft became illegal with the threat of the death penalty.
murder, rape and assualt are common crimes.
An increase in the number of murders
arson, theft and robbery.
The level of petty theft increased over this time period
England before 1534 was strongly catholic but King Henry VIII changed the country to be under his rule and protestants.
heretics were people who chose the opposite religion to the monarch in charge. The definition of heretic would change because a catholic monarch would regard protestants as heretics, but protestant monarchs would regard Catholics as heretics during their rule.
this was a period of change when many Christians turned to become protestants. Lots of people who were Catholics became protestants. Those who stayed catholic would fight with the protestants.
1576- houses of correction built to punish local beggars
1494 - all vagabonds and sturdy beggars put in the stocks for 3 days
all vagabonds to be sent back to their homes
Increased because of inflation and unemployment. There was no support system for the poor.
witchcraft
transportation
science and technology
individuals and institutions
Attitudes in society
Henry vIII was concerned about witchcraft and introduced anti witchcraft laws which made witchcraft a tough crime to commit.
Local communities would organised local witch hunts against witches
King James I was incredibly superstitous and as a result was very strict against anything supernatural. He made witchcraft punishable by death.
religion in this time was taken extremely seriously and witchcraft was the work of the devil.
There was an increase in poverty so people became jealous of each other and would accuse each other of witchcraft if something went wrong in their lives.
Many people in this time were incredibly superstitious and this caused fear of the supernatural, the fear of witchcraft grew as a result
1547- first begging office: 2 years of slavery second begging offence: slavery for the life or execution
this law ended in 1593 and the 1531 law was restored
1572- first begging office: branded with a hot iron though the ear
second begging office: execution
this law was ended in 1593 - and the 1531 law was restored
1534- all vagabonds and sturdy beggars whipped until their body was bloodied
all vagabond to be sent back to their homes
there was a lack of scientific knowledge and therefore no reason to explain natural events. Therefore it was seen as the work of witches
people would die of diseases but people during this time didn't know why these disease happened so they thought they were cursed or the devil was at work.
law enforcement
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change
whipping
branding
ducking stool
continuity
the stocks and pillory
the death penalty was key to deterrence
continuity
change
bridle
justices of peace who keep local laws enforced
The army was still used to deal with serious incidents
Travelling judges who traveled around the country enforcing laws
sergeants who patrol market places
At the end of the period torture was no longer allowed as a way to get confessions from people. The last record of torture was in 1640
Town watchmen to patrol the streets.
Rewards are given out to help solve crimes and catch criminals
The hue and cry still exists but works less efficiently in smaller communities
authorities still used harsh punishments to deal with crimes and to act as a deterrent
Authorities introduced even harsher punishments to deal with crimes.
problems: there were major problems with the death penalty in Britain
useful: the authorities delivered that transportation would be useful for the development of the colonies
prison: during this time there were few alternative as there was no prison system
bloody code
the bloody code is a set of new laws which make even the smallest of crimes have terrible punishments. This was to deter people from committing a crime in the first place.
The death penalty was introduced for 225 crimes by 1815
people were scared about rising crime rates so this was a way to stop crimes rising.