c1500-1700 Crime And Punishment- Early Modern England Flashcards
There were huge ______ and _______ changes between c1500 and c1700. These changes led to changes in the nature of crimes against the person, property and authority.
Social* Religious*
Increase in population and the decline of feudalism lead to higher unemployment, which meant more people moved to urban areas in search of work. This lead to increased crimes against the ______
The person, with the increase of street criminals and petty thieves
The end of feudalism and the new farming methods lead to enclosure of land (Fencing off land for the exclusive use of the landowner) this lead to more crimes against ______
Property, for example poaching, as more landowners restricted who could hunt on their land.
Changes in peoples religious beliefs and the religion of the monarch. This lead to the increase of crimes against ______
Authority, as more people committed heresy and high treason
When did Heresy become a crime?
1382
Why did heresy become a crime?
As both the church and the monarch felt threatened by different beliefs. It was classed as a crime against authority.
What was heresy normally punished by?
Death by burning at the stake
Why did crime against authority increase?
It was a time of religious change and many rebellions and plots against the monarch.
Why were treason charges more common?
There were more disputes over who should rule
Why was heresy more common?
Becuase the official religion kept changing from Catholic to Protestant then to catholic then back to Protestant. As monarchs became head of the church, treason and heresy became linked.
Key term: High treason
The crime of plotting or acting to overthrow or harm the ruler or country
Key term: heresy
The crime of having religious beliefs that were different form the official religion of the country
What is a vagabond/vagrant?
A unemployed homeless person.
When was a large increase in vagrants due to the increasing population, falling wages and rising food prices and no system to help the needy?
The late 15th and 16th centuries
Why did people hate the vagrants?
-Hated and feared by the settled population
-Resorted to thieving, begging and charity in order to survive. Which was resented by the population
-Viewed as lazy and responsible for their own problems
When did monasteries close?
1536
What’s a monastery?
a building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.
What year was the Vagabonds and beggars act?- vagabonds we’re out in sticks for three days and nights. Then sent back to where they were born or most known
1494
When was the Vagrancy act?- The able-bodied without work for more than three days were branded with a letter v and sold into slavery for two years, it was repealed because it was impossible to enforce
1547
When was the Act for the relief of the poor? - split vagrants into two categories, the deserving poor (elderly or disabled) and the undeserving (those fit to work)
1597
