18th Century - 19th Century C+P Flashcards
(39 cards)
1
Q
how long was the period of 18th and 20th century Britain?
A
1700-1900
2
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN:what new crimes were there?
A
- Poaching
- Highway robbery
3
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what new punishments were there?
A
- Transportation to AUSTRALIA
- Prison (more widely used)
4
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what new policing methods were there?
A
- A POLICE FORCE
5
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what crimes were no longer considered a crime? (changing definitions)
A
HERESY:
- Religious UNCERTAINTY has passed
- The LAST EXECUTION for heresy in 1612
VAGABONDAGE:
- in 1700-1900 there was a GENERAL INCREASE IN WEALTH so the FEARS DECREASED
WITCHCRAFT:
- Most educated people were LESS LIKELY TO BELIEVE accusations
- In 1736 witchcraft laws were REPEALED
6
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was highway robbery?
A
- BEGAN at the same time as the CIVIL WAR (1642-1649)
- In some areas it reached EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS
- It was punishable by DEATH since c16th
- It posed a MAJOR DISRUPTION to TRADE
- Highway men were often GLAMORISED
- It was most common AROUND LONDON and the MAIN ROUTES there
- It was a SOCIAL CRIME
7
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why did people poach?
A
- Small landowners and tenats often IGNORED the law and would poach to SUPPLEMENT LOW WAGES
- Some did poach for ENTERTAINMENT
- Most poachers MADE MORE from poaching than THEIR JOBS
- There were ORGANISED GANGS who supplied the BLACK MARKETS
- DEMAND increased as the population increased and do did profits
8
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: how were poachers punished?
A
- DEATH PENALTY
- Those who INFORMED on poachers were REWARDED but they were generally HATED
- People would LIE in court to PROTECT POACHERS
- If you were found with DOGS OR SNARES you could be FINED
- MANY LAWS WERE REPEALED IN 1823
9
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was poaching made a capital crime?
A
- There was NO POLICE FORCE
- Prisons WEREN’T a DETERRENT
- To SCARE people
- Towns made it DIFFICULT TO POLICE
- TO PROTECT THE WEALTHY
- People didn’t think the laws were fair
10
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why did people smuggle?
A
- Was a quick way to EARN 6/7 TIMES the daily wage
- It offered an ALTERNATIVE LIVING
- You were UNLIKELY TO BE CAUGHT
- All social classes smuggled
- People didn’t want to pay the IMPORT TAX
11
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was the issue with smuggling?
A
- Britain is an island –> LOTS OF COASTLINES
- It INCREASED 1740-1850
- It REDUCED THE GOVERNMENTS INCOME from tax and duties
- The DUKE OF RICHMOND was asked to SQUASH the gangs so he hung 35 but there were at least 20000
12
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: Why did smugglers get away with it?
A
- Customs officials FEARED SMUGGLERS
- They were KNOWN to be VIOLENT AND WELL-ARMED and had LITTLE FEAR of CUSTOMS OFFICERS
- If they were charge MAGISTRATES EXPECTED TO BE KILLED
- LOW PAY JUSTIFIED crime
- People DISLIKED the tax
- Gangs CONTROLLED areas
13
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why were their fears surrounding trade unions?
A
- The FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789
- The government was scared as every PROTEST could lead to UPRISING
- They saw the GNCTU (a trade union) as SUSPICIOUS
- Employers didn’t want to give WORKERS RIGHTS
- Employers were suspicious of trade unions because there was a THREAT of having a LARGE GROUP demanding from them as trade unions WEREN’T IN THE INTEREST OF THE RICH
14
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: who were the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
A
- A TRADE UNION
- They wanted their employer to RAISE THEIR PAY after several cuts
- They were TRANSPORTED TO AUSTRALIA for a 7 YEAR sentence
- The government CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF A CRIME to include an OATH SWORN as being part of a UNION WASN’T ILLEGAL
15
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why were the Tolpuddle Martyrs punished so harshly?
A
- POVERTY AND WEALTH:
- there was a BIG DIVIDE between the rich and poor
- GOVERNMENT:
- they MANIPULATED the LAW to suit them
- ATTITUDES IN SOCIETY:
- Workers were expected to OBEY EMPLOYERS
16
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was the impact of industrialisation?
A
- EMPLOYMENT INCREASED
- Cheap food
- Growing ACCEPTANCE of GOVERNMENT CONTROL
- There were new ideas about HUMAN NATURE and people thought MORE OF REFORM and IMPROVING CONDITIONS
- TRADE + INDUSTRIAL growth made England WEALTHY in the c19th so government INCREASED TAXES
- Between 1850-1900 LITERACY RATES increased and children went to SCHOOL UNTIL 13
17
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was the MET set up in 1829?
A
LONDON:
- FEAR of CRIME
- Too MANY PEOPLE
- Scared of REVOLUTION
ROBERT PEEL:
- REDUCED CRIME
- He was the HOME SECRETARY in 1822
- He EXAGGERATED STATISTICS
ATTITUDES TO GOV. INTERFERENCE:
- People were GETTING USED to it
- The WAR with France (1803-1814) left UNEMPLOYMENT so money was RAISED WITH TAXES
TAXATION:
- Local authorities were allowed to RAISE THEIR OWN taxes to PAY FOR A POLICE FORCE
- TAXES helped SOLVE UNEMPLOYMENT
FEAR OF PROTEST:
- After the FRENCH REVOLUTION the government were SCARED the same would happen here
- EXPENSIVE FOOD + UNEMPLOYMENT led to protest after 1815
RAISING CRIME RATE:
- It rose sharply after the FRENCH WARS because of UNEMPLOYMENT
- Everyone THOUGHT that VIOLENT crime was rising
18
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what did Peel do?
A
- He set up a PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE to look into POLICING
- 1826–>there was an ECONOMIC DOWNTURN which led to UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY and resulted in a CRIME WAVE and the army had to be called in.
- Peel thought it would be better to have a CENTRALISED SYSTEM that did not RELY ON WEAPONS
- He wanted to ensure a SIMILAR STANDARD of policing was MAINTAINED across London –> some WEALTHY AREAS could afford WATCHMEN and others couldn’t
- The first officers were APPOINTED IN SEPT 1829
19
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what were some criticisms of Peel an his police force?
A
- They faced a HOSTILE ATTITUDE from the public and the press
- People THOUGHT that they were POORLY TRAINED, HAD DUBIOUS BACKGROUNDS and had IMMORAL TENDENCIES
- There were FEARS OF OPPRESSION –> people thought that the police would LIMIT FREEDOM and would be a military style presence
- There was a common fear of FRENCH STYLE POLICING –> France had a REPRESSIVE CENTRALISED FORCE
- There were CONCERNS of the COST imposed on the TAX-PAYER
20
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what are the key dates regarding the police system?
A
1835 - a law stating that towns CAN have their OWN POLICE FORCE
1842 - The MET set up their FIRST DETECTIVE FORCE
1856 - By this time the police were RESPECTED, it was COMPULSORY for towns and counties to have a police force
1878 - MET DETECTIVE FORCE = REORGANISED into CID
1884 - 39,000 police in Britain and 200+ forces
21
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was the bloody code used?
A
- NO other punishment was TRUSTED
- Prisons were NOT USED ON A WIDE SCALE
- PUBLIC executions were a DETERRENT
- The FRENCH REVOLUTION scared the AUTHORITIES
- There was NO POLICE FORCE so STRONG DETERRENT was necessary
- THE CODE HAD BEEN DEVELOPED WHEN THE CRIME RATE WAS FALLING AND WAS GRADUALLY ABOLISHED WHEN IT WAS INCREASING *
22
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was the bloody code abolished?
A
- In the 1700’s only 40% of the convicted capital crimes were hanged and in the 1800’s it was only 10%
- Judges WOULDN’T CONVICT
23
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what were key dates in the bloody code?
A
1789 - LAST WOMAN burned for murdering her husband
1808 - SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY ABOLISHED DEATH penalty for PICK POCKETING
1820 - LAST BEHEADING –> the cato street conspirators who tried to assassinate the entire government
1820’s-1830’s - ABOLITION of nearly all CAPITAL CRIMES
1841 - only MURDER + TREASON were capital crimes
1868 - Last PUBLIC HANGING
24
Q
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what did the authorities want from transportation?
A
- CLAIM new LAND
- Provide a punishment LESS HARSH than the death penalty so juries WOULD CONVICT
- To DETER
- REFORM
- To REDUCE crime by REMOVING criminals
- TRANSPORTATION PEAKED IN 1833 WITH 36 SHIPS AND 6779 CRIMINALS BEING SENT TO AUSTRALIA*
25
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what arguments were there FOR transportation?
- By the 1830's, Australia was an ESTABLISHED part of the EMPIRE --> no countries were likely to try and claim it
- Only a MINORITY of convicts chose to RETURN-> most took the opportunity to live PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL LIVES IN AUSTRALIA
- Juries were MORE WILLING TO CONVICT
26
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what arguments were there AGAINST transportation?
- 1810--> The lord chief justice described transportation as 'no more than a summers excursion to a happier and better climate'
- In 1851 there was a GOLD RUSH so people WANTED TO GO to Australia
- SETTLERS established groups to PROTEST against 'dumping' convicts --> they wanted to END the idea that EVERYONE was a CRIMINAL
- 1830's --> WAGES were HIGHER than in BRITAIN so was more of an OPPORTUNITY
- The crime rate had NO FALLEN but INCREASED so it was an INEFFECTIVE punishment
- 1830's--> transportation cost HALF A MILLION and prisons were USED MORE because they were CHEAP
27
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was transportation eventually ended?
By the 1840's transportation decreased and prisons were used more. In 1857, it was ENDED due to PRESSURE from SETTLERS. The government NEEDED THEIR SUPPORT in order to CONTROL THE COUNTRY from far away
28
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what were prisons used for in the 18th century?
For HOLDING prisoners for trial
In 1770 there were only 4000 people in prison and most of those were in debt
29
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what were the 3 major changes to the prison system?
- Imprisonment became the NORMAL method of punishment
- For 100's of years the aim had been to deter but it was becoming clear that HARSH PUNISHMENT WAS INEFFECTIVE so NEW ATTITUDES were pushing for REFORM
- The government took CONTROL of prisons due to the increase in prisoners --> PRISON INSPECTORS aimed to IMPROVE AND RAISE STANDARDS
30
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was the old prison system like?
- Prisoners were HOUSED TOGETHER
- They were 'SCHOOLS FOR CRIME'
- PRISON WARDERS were UNPAID so they earned money by charging prisoners so the poor suffered
31
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what did the 1823 Gaol Act intorduce?
BY PEEL --> he wanted to stop REOFFENDING
- SEPARATE male and female prisoners and hardened criminals from first timers
- Prison warders and governors were PAID
- ADEQUATE FOOD and DRAINAGE with a FRESH WATER SUPPLY
- All prisoners had to ATTEND CHAPEL for RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
- All prisoners to be VISITED by their LOCAL MAGISTRATE to CHECK STANDARDS
32
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what did John Howard do?
* IMPACTED PRISONER CONDITIONS AND NEEDS OF THE POOR *
- He was criticised for being TOO LENIENT
- He though that:
- Prisoner FEES were WRONG
- Prisoners should be SEPARATED
- DIETS should be be IMPROVED
- ACCOMMODATION should be HEALTHIER
- Prison GUARDS should be BETTER
33
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what did Elizabeth Fry do?
* IMPACTED WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S NEEDS--> A STRONG ANGLE FOR POTENTIAL REFORM *
- She was a QUAKER
- She was criticised for being TOO LENIENT
- She thought that:
- Women were treated particularly BADLY
- Women WITH CHILDREN were living in OVERCROWDING
- MALE wardens EXPLOITED females
- Children should be EDUCATED (set up a school in Newgate)
- PRAYER GROUPS and RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION would prevent REOFFENDING
34
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what social changes affected reform?
VOTING RIGHTS
- by 1850 nearly ALL MEN could vote and the government began to make IMPROVEMENTS to ORDINARY lives to WIN VOTES
HARVESTS
- Improvements to agriculture meant FEWER POOR HARVESTS and GROWTH OF TRADE meant food could be imported CHEAPLY so it was cheaper TO FEED PRISONERS a good diet
WEALTH + TAXES
- Britain = WEALTHY so the government could collect HIGHER TAXES so could PAY FOR REFORM EDUCATION
- By 1850 70% of children had a BASIC EDUCATION and society began to VALUE it and the development of children
ACCEPTANCE OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL
- People began to TOLERATE IT and it became a NATURAL IDEA that the government should oversee the prison system so could allow for reform IDEAS ABOUT HUMAN NATURE
- People thought that BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS encouraged BETTER BEHAVIOUR but Darwin's idea of the CRIMINAL CLASS may have SLOWED REFORM
35
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what was the first prison built by the government?
- Between 1842-1877 the gov. built 90 prisons
- PENTONVILLE was the first and was a MODEL FOR OTHERS
- It would deal with INCREASED INMATES and to ENCOURAGE REFORM
36
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what did Pentonville and the separate system aim to do?
- STOP criminals INFLUENCING each other
--> did this by keeping them ALONE in their cells/far apart from each other in MASKS
- Encourage CHARACTER REFORM
--> regular RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION (boxed in) and cells had a LOOM so they would be PRODUCTIVE and learn the VALUE OF WORK
- it ended the idea that prisons were schools for crime BUT SOLITARY CONFINEMENT was bad for MENTAL WELL BEING (1842-1850: 22 went mad, 3 suicide) and it was very EXPENSIVE
37
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was the separate effective?
- crime rates were FALLING but fear of crime INCREASED because of:
- PENNY DREADFULS which spread PANIC and encouraged PUBLIC FEAR that government weren't doing enough --> the garroting crisis was sensationalised AND
- DARWIN'S IDEAS encouraged the belief of the CRIMINAL CLASS who were INCAPABLE of REFORM because they were LESS EVOLVED which people to believe that criminals could NOT BE REFORMED --> led to a HARSHER system
38
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: what were features of the silent system?
- SILENCE AT ALL TIME
- -> prisoners who made noise were WHIPPED and put on a POOR DIET
- HARDFARE
- -> Food was ADEQUATE but always the SAME
- HARD BOARD
- -> hammocks were replaced by HARD BUNKS which were DELIBERATELY UNCOMFORTABLE
- HARD LABOUR
- -> DELIBERATELY POINTLESS work for several hours
39
C18TH + C20TH BRITAIN: why was there so much change 1700-1900 in prisons?
- RISING CRIME
- -> theft and violent crime rose so the government tried to reform to stop re offending
- INEFFECTIVE BLOODY CODE
- -> Public executions were entertainment and not a deterrent
- EXISITING PRISONS WERE INEFFECTIVE
- -> not separate so changes were needed to stop them breeding crime
- CHANGING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
- -> more involved in society and higher taxes so could afford improvements
- ROLE OF REFORMERS
- -> Howard and Fry believed in reform which gave the government ideas for improvement
