Laws

• Capital punishment

  • Capital punishment is when a person is executed as punishment for crime
  • In the 1800s 200 offences could result it capital punishment
  • e.g. picking pockets, shooting rabbits
  • These laws focus on the poor who were viewed as lazy
• Possession of cannabis

  It is illegal to have possession of cannabis in England and Wales. However, in other countries (Canada vagrants Columbia) it is legal. The views on the use of cannabis are different from place to place. Some countries view it as a recreational drug, while others consider that the medical proper should take precedence over its legality
• Jaywalking

  Jaywalking is where pedestrians cross without regards to traffic restrictions, for instance they step out anywhere other than a specific crossing, or without a green light. Jaywalking is an offence in most unban areas in the USA, Canada, Singapore and Poland. However, in the UK there is no such offence as it is considered a personal responsibility to cross the road safely
• Female genital mutilation

  It is the deliberate mutilation of female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is usually carried out on girls under 15, prior to them starting any sexual activity. It is carried out in many parts of Africa and Asia and is connected to cultural and religious reasons. It is believed it will benefit the girl and preserve her virginity ready for marriage. The law surrounding FGM is different in different places due to the understanding of it. In the UK, the painful nature of the operation, health implications and mental illness after having it done are understood
• Societies views on smoking

  In the 1930s it was a social norm to smoke cigarettes and such behaviour was normals. Medical research from the mid-1950s onwards confirmed a link between smoking and lung cancer. In 1964 the US Surgeon General concluded there was a link between lung cancer and chronic bronchitis and smoking - by the end of 1965 there had to be warning labels on cigarettes packets
• The death penalty

  In the 18th century over 200 offences resulted in the death penalty. These included: horse theft and stealing good worth more than 5p. The 18th century approved the death penalty as it protected the upper classes. Fewer crimes are now punishable by death. This changed due to campaigns, feminism, attitudes, values and basic human rights
• Domestic abuse


  It used to go on with any punishment - it wasn’t against the law. Society believed that women were property of men and it was a private matter better a married couple (police would not get involved). It is now against the law and punishable with a prison sentence. Societies views changed due to campaigns, feminism, attitude, values and basic human rights
• Assisted suicide

  It was Illegal and a person would be sent to prison for murder. This was against Christian values, only god can decide who lives and who dies. In some countries it is legal when the person is deemed to have no quality of life and it is in their best interest. E.g. Switzerland. Societies views changed as they had empathy towards the person suffering, celebrity campaigning, less religious society.
• Women’s rights

  Women were the property of their father or husband. They were not allowed to vote, own a house, do certain jobs, gain a full education. Women had very few legal and political rights. Women were second class citizens and were not capable of financial responsibility, their role was to look after men and bring up children. There are now many new laws. Right to vote 1918, Equal pay act 1970 and the Sex discrimination act 1975. Societies views changed due to women protesting, women being equal to men and WW1 as women had to do men’s jobs while they were away.
• Drunk driving

  There was no specific alcohol limit, nothing happened to drink drivers. It was down to the police to decide whether they were too drunk. Not many people drove, so it wasn’t a big issue. It is now illegal to drink drive, we have specific alcohol limits and people are sent to prison. Societies views changed due to more car being on the road, accidents and death involving drunk drivers increasing and TV campaigns
• Immigration and racism

  Society discriminated and was racist towards people of a non white background. They couldn’t get jobs, houses etc. People believed stereotype views that they were dirty, diseased or criminal - people were afraid. It is now illegal to discriminate against race or to be abusive. Societies views changed because laws were introduced to tackle racism, it is morally wrong to discriminate and it is seen as unacceptable to be racist and it is not tolerated.