Punishment

• What were the most common methods of punishment in early modern England?

  Capital and corporal punishment
• What was the purpose of transportation as a punishment in early modern England?

  To remove criminals from England and provide manual labor in colonies
• What types of minor crimes were punished with corporal punishment?

  Begging, drunkenness, and vagrancy
• What was the significance of the Bloody Code in the 17th century?

  It increased the number of capital offences to frighten people from committing crimes
• How many capital offences were there by 1600?

  50 capital offences
• What crimes were punishable by capital punishment during this period?

  Theft, murder, poaching, witchcraft, and smuggling
• What was the punishment for heresy in early modern England?

  Burning
• What was the main purpose of punishments during early modern England?

  Retribution and deterrence
• How did transportation as a punishment reflect a change in attitudes towards rehabilitation?

  It provided a chance for rehabilitation while still acting as a deterrent
• When did transportation to North America begin?

  Under James I (1603-1625)
• How long were criminals sentenced to transportation in North America?

  Seven or fourteen years
• How many men, women, and children were transported to America during this time?

  Between 50,000 and 80,000
• What was one of the reasons for the harshness of transportation as a punishment?

  It was a serious punishment that acted as a deterrent
• What were the main purposes of punishment in early modern England?

  • Retribution
  • Deterrence
  • Rehabilitation (in the case of transportation)
• What were the forms of corporal punishment used for minor crimes?

  • Pillory or stocks
  • Flogging
  • Maiming
• What was the impact of the Bloody Code on crime rates?

  • Increased fear of punishment
  • Higher number of capital offences
  • Aimed to deter crime
• What were the consequences for criminals transported to North America?

  • Sentenced to manual labor
  • Released after 7 or 14 years
  • Most could not afford to return to England