Early Modern England c1500 - c1700

• Their were huge social and religious changes during c1500 and c1700
• changes in society included increase in population, the end of feudalism and changes in people's religious beliefs.
• due to the changes in religion, their were many rebellions and plots against the monarch
• which two religions did the country keep switching between


  catholic and protestant
• when did heresy first become a crime

  1382
• treason definition


  plotting or acting to other throw or harm the ruler of the country
• heresy definition


  the crime of having a different religious beliefs to the official religion of the country
• who were vagabonds


  unemployed and homeless people
• why was there an increase in vagabondage


  • increasing population
  • falling wages
  • rising food prices
  • no system to help the needy
• 1949 vagabonds and beggars act


  vagabonds were put in stocks for three days and nights, then sent back to were they were born or most well-kown
• 1547 Vagrancy act


  the able bodied without work for more than three days were branded with a letter 'V' and sold as a slave for two years
• 1597 Act for the relief of the poor


  split vagrants into two categories 'deserving' (elderly or disabled) and 'undeserving' (fit for work)
• 1601 poor laws


  • 'deserving' poor were given poor relief by the local parish
  • 'undeserving' poor could be branded, whipped or sent to a correction house
• what is smuggling


  taking goods in to avoid paying import tax
• smuggling was viewed as a social crime and most people did not view it as serious or a threat
• how had the view on witchcraft change from medieval times to early modern England

  went from a minor crime that was dealt with by church courts shifted to a very serious offence
• in 1542 henry viii made witchcraft punishable by death
• in 1563 elizabeth i changed the law so witchcraft was to be tried in a common court
• in 1604 james i instructed the death penaltty to be given to people 'summoning evil spirits'
• did the hue and cry contiue

  yes
• was their a national police force

  no
• Henry vii made it so if people had recieved the beinfit of the clergy they were branded and couldnt recieve it again
• edward vi made it so serious crimes, such as murder, were exempt from benifit of the clergy
• the church became less powerful in society
• henry vii stopped exile abroad for those claiming sanctuary
• in 1623 james i abolished sanctuary alltogether
• description of watchmen


  • carried a lamp to light their way
  • rang a bell to alert people
  • male householders were expected to volunteer unpaid
  • patrol from 10pm to dawn
  • overseen by town constable
• description of town constable


  • employed by authorities
  • respected members of the community
  • power to arrest suspects and take them to the justice of peace
  • in charge of watchman in their area
  • helped with town administration
• all punishments continued and there main purpose of punishment was for deterrence
• when was the bloody code era

  1688-1825
• by 1688 there were 50 capital offences
• was stealing a loaf of bread punishable by death in the bloody code era

  yes
• how many people were transported to north america

  50, 000 between 80, 000
• what did people transported to north america forced to do

  had to do manual work
• how long was the sentence for being transported

  7 to 14 years
• what did transportation reflect


  the changing ideas on the aim of punishment to give criminals a chance of rehabilitation while still acting as a deterrent
• who led the gun powder plot

  robert catesby
• when was the date of the gunpowder plot

  5th november 1605
• The gun powder plotters rented a celler directly underneath the houses of parliament
• what did the plotters fill the celler with

  barrels of gunpowder