Crime and Punishment - Crime 1500-1700(early modern England)

• Population growth in England (1500-1700)


  The population of England in 1500 was around 2.5 million, and by 1700 it was around 5.5 million. London's population increased to 50,000.
• Crime prevalence in towns and cities


  Crimes like theft and fraud were more common in towns and cities due to anonymity and visible wealth.
• What happened as more people moved into towns for work

  As more people moved from the countryside to towns for work, the number of people without steady jobs grew, leading to poverty.
• Why was there more opportunities for crime

  Crowded towns and cities provided more opportunities for crimes due to anonymity and the concentration of people.
• Who was Heresy a crime against

  Heresy was considered a crime against the Church and an offence to God.
• Treason definition


  Treason was a challenge to the authority of the ruler.
• Henry VIII's treatment of Protestants and Catholics

  During Henry VIII's reign, Protestants were executed for heresy, Catholic were executed for treason if did not take the Oath of Supremacy - acknowledging Henry as Head of the church of England
• How did Treason and Heresy become connected?


  The reformation lead to the two crimes being connected as all monarchs from Henry VIIIs (except Mary I) was Head of the Church of England. Anyone who challenged the rulers authority as head of the church of england would be guilty of treason
• What was considered Heresy in Edwards I reign?


  not being a Protestant
• What was heresy in Mary I reign? What law made this possible?


  not being a catholic, 1553 Heresy laws made it illegal to not be a catholic
• What did Elizabeth I try to find? What Act did she introduce and in what year? 


  Mia vedia ( a middle way), she introduced the 1559 Act of Uniformity - said everyone had to go to church on Sundays and holy days
• What did James I introduce and why? What act did he introduce and what was it?


  Strict anti-catholic laws because of the GunPowder plot. He introduced the 1605 Popish Recusants Act - catholics had to swear loyalty to the king and pay heavy fines for not attending church
• What was a vagabond or vagrant


  a homeless or an unemployed person
• Why did the number of vagabonds increase in 1500s?


  Growing population, decreasing wages, rising food prices
• What were peoples attitudes towards vagabonds?


  Harsh - believed they were not in genuine need
• When was the Vagrancy act introduced


  1547
• What did the vagrancy act say? How long was it in place?


  if able-bodies vagrants didn't work for 3 days they would be branded with the letter V and sold to a slave for 2 years - the law was withdrawn after 3 years as very severe
• When was the Act for the relief of the poor introduced


  1549
• What did the Act for relief of poor do?


  harsh punishments like whipping, burning the ear using a hot iron for vagrants
• When was Poor laws introduced


  1601
• What did poor laws say


  Local parishes had to provide poor relief for Deserving poor. the undeserving poor could be branded or whipped or sent to a house of correction
• What happened to areas of land that poor used to gather food and firewood

  began to be enclosed
• When was game act introduced


  1671
• What did Game act say


  illegal to hunt or fish on enclosed land - breaking the laws was called poaching
• What did the government introduce in 17th century?


  import duties ( tax paid on bringing in goods into a country ) some alcohols and teas
• Why did people start smuggling?


  avoid paying taxes on imported goods - bringing in goods illegally
• Which years did Oliver Cromwell rule between


  1653 - 1658
• What did government believe under Cromwell


  People should focus on religion and have Pure Souls - belief called Puritanism
• Which laws were introduced under Cromwell


  Christmas day = quiet day of reflection

  Alcohol was banned
• What happened to Recusancy under Cromwell


  decriminalised

  Recusancy - was when people stayed loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to attend Church of England services after the Reformation