Transcript
Page 1: Crimes and Punishments in Early-Modern England

History ProjectHistory Project

CRIMEWATCH-UKCRIMEWATCH-UK

Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment

duringduring

1700-18001700-1800

byby Didar S. RandhawaDidar S. Randhawa

Page 2: Crimes and Punishments in Early-Modern England

Pickpockets and CutpursesPickpockets and Cutpurses They were petty criminals who stole They were petty criminals who stole

money or goods from others pockets in money or goods from others pockets in crowded places without them noticing.crowded places without them noticing.

Many pick pocketing cases involved Many pick pocketing cases involved prostitutes stealing from their clientsprostitutes stealing from their clients..

Some of them also carried weapons like Some of them also carried weapons like knives.knives.

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Punishment

The difficulty of proving that the victim had no The difficulty of proving that the victim had no

knowledge of the crime made it difficult to convict knowledge of the crime made it difficult to convict defendants of this offence, though many were defendants of this offence, though many were convicted of lesser charges through Partial Verdicts.convicted of lesser charges through Partial Verdicts.

The punishments was fine, whipping or The punishments was fine, whipping or transportation.transportation.

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Highwaymen and FootpadsHighwaymen and Footpads In 18In 18thth century, the century, the highwayhighway robbery was very robbery was very

common. People carried their money with common. People carried their money with them as there were few banks. The roads were them as there were few banks. The roads were not made up so travel was slow and there not made up so travel was slow and there were few travellers. Therefore the roads were were few travellers. Therefore the roads were quiet. There was no police force. To stop or quiet. There was no police force. To stop or chase the victims of the robbery or get away chase the victims of the robbery or get away quickly the highway men rode on horseback. quickly the highway men rode on horseback.

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FootpadsFootpads were the persons who robbed people were the persons who robbed people on the highway like highwaymen but on the on the highway like highwaymen but on the foot. They robbed people who were less rich.foot. They robbed people who were less rich.

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PunishmentPunishment

The punishment for highway robbery was The punishment for highway robbery was death penalty.death penalty.

The punishments for footpads were The punishments for footpads were imprisonment and transportation.imprisonment and transportation.

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Pirates and BuccaneersPirates and Buccaneers

A A piratepirate was a robber who travelled by water in the hope of getting was a robber who travelled by water in the hope of getting great wealth. Though most pirates targeted ships, some also launched great wealth. Though most pirates targeted ships, some also launched attacks on coastal towns. attacks on coastal towns.

Pirate ships carried more crew than ordinary ships. This meant they Pirate ships carried more crew than ordinary ships. This meant they could easily outnumber their victims. Pirates altered their ships so that could easily outnumber their victims. Pirates altered their ships so that they could carry far more cannon than merchant ships of the same they could carry far more cannon than merchant ships of the same size. They were brute with terrifying reputation, and they advertised size. They were brute with terrifying reputation, and they advertised their terror by flying various gruesome flags including the 'Jolly their terror by flying various gruesome flags including the 'Jolly Roger' with its picture of skull and crossbones. All these things Roger' with its picture of skull and crossbones. All these things together meant that victims often surrendered very quickly. together meant that victims often surrendered very quickly. Sometimes there was no fighting at all. Sometimes there was no fighting at all.

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BoucaneersBoucaneers originally were hunters who were poaching originally were hunters who were poaching cattle and pigs. English settlers occupying Jamaica began to cattle and pigs. English settlers occupying Jamaica began to spread the name with the meaning of rebel pirates sailing in spread the name with the meaning of rebel pirates sailing in the Caribbean ports and seas. the Caribbean ports and seas. They were the men who had They were the men who had shipwrecked or escaped from prisons, or marooned sailors or shipwrecked or escaped from prisons, or marooned sailors or runaways. runaways.

However, while pirates were exclusively limited to the sea, However, while pirates were exclusively limited to the sea, buccaneers plundered both on the shores and on high seas.buccaneers plundered both on the shores and on high seas.

They carried the weapons like special knives called boucans, They carried the weapons like special knives called boucans, cutlass and rifles. cutlass and rifles.

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PunishmentPunishment

They were executed in publicThey were executed in public ..

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Smugglers and PoachersSmugglers and Poachers In eighteenth century, trade routes were opened up across In eighteenth century, trade routes were opened up across

the known world, merchants and traders often became very the known world, merchants and traders often became very wealthy by using these routes to import new, luxury goods wealthy by using these routes to import new, luxury goods into England. The cost of protecting this trade was in the into England. The cost of protecting this trade was in the hands of Navy, and thus to the British government. hands of Navy, and thus to the British government. As As government started taking heavy taxes on imported items government started taking heavy taxes on imported items through sea route like tea, wine , cloth and spirits etc. so through sea route like tea, wine , cloth and spirits etc. so these items became expensive. To evade these taxes, people these items became expensive. To evade these taxes, people started started smugglingsmuggling goods as they were cheap and people goods as they were cheap and people were ready to buy cheap goods. Thus smuggling became a were ready to buy cheap goods. Thus smuggling became a business. Smugglers also used violence against custom business. Smugglers also used violence against custom officials.officials.

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PoachingPoaching means stealing wild creatures - means stealing wild creatures - birds, animals or fish - from those who own birds, animals or fish - from those who own the land or water they live in. All the poachers the land or water they live in. All the poachers were not just poaching to eat. Some made a were not just poaching to eat. Some made a good business of it. They supplied it to food good business of it. They supplied it to food merchants in the towns.merchants in the towns.

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PunishmentPunishment

There were many punishments for smuggling, which depend There were many punishments for smuggling, which depend on the value and amount of the goods smuggled, and the on the value and amount of the goods smuggled, and the degree of violence committed. Minimum penalty to the ones degree of violence committed. Minimum penalty to the ones involved in smuggling activities was transportation to colonies involved in smuggling activities was transportation to colonies such as Australia. The ultimate punishment was death.such as Australia. The ultimate punishment was death.

In 1723 the "Black Act" a capital offence was made in which In 1723 the "Black Act" a capital offence was made in which poacher’s face was blackened (those caught could be hanged). poacher’s face was blackened (those caught could be hanged). Who possessed poaching equipment could get punishment for Who possessed poaching equipment could get punishment for a year in prison or transportation.a year in prison or transportation.

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Murderers and RebelsMurderers and Rebels

MurdererMurderer was a person who killed another human was a person who killed another human being unlawfully.being unlawfully.

Because of industrialisation social problems arose in Because of industrialisation social problems arose in

1818thth century . The gap increased between rich and century . The gap increased between rich and poor. So the poor became poor. So the poor became rebellionsrebellions to defend to defend themselves and fought back for economic order. They themselves and fought back for economic order. They fought against dearth, high prices, wage cuttings and fought against dearth, high prices, wage cuttings and introduction of machinery. They wanted to be introduction of machinery. They wanted to be provided with social security. provided with social security.

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PunishmentPunishment

Many people tried for this offence were Many people tried for this offence were convicted of the lesser offence of convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter. After 1752, those found guilty manslaughter. After 1752, those found guilty of murder were sentenced to Death with of murder were sentenced to Death with

Dissection or to be hung in chainsDissection or to be hung in chains

Punishment was used in an exemplary way on Punishment was used in an exemplary way on a small number of those involved.a small number of those involved.

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Hangmen and ExecutionersHangmen and Executioners

HangmanHangman was a man employed to execute condemned was a man employed to execute condemned prisoners by hanging. prisoners by hanging.

Hangmen weren't exclusively executioners and many also Hangmen weren't exclusively executioners and many also carried out normal jobs such as barbers and publicans. carried out normal jobs such as barbers and publicans. Hadfield was a condemned prisoner too also been sentenced Hadfield was a condemned prisoner too also been sentenced for highway robbery. It was the custom at that time that the for highway robbery. It was the custom at that time that the executions were carried out by a condemned prisoner who executions were carried out by a condemned prisoner who had been pardoned on condition that he would act as had been pardoned on condition that he would act as hangman. hangman.

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An An executionerexecutioner was an official or occasional officer was an official or occasional officer of the court who actually inflicted the capital of the court who actually inflicted the capital punishment or certain other physical punishments to punishment or certain other physical punishments to which a convict had been sentenced.which a convict had been sentenced.

Many executioners were professional specialists, who Many executioners were professional specialists, who usually travelled a whole area since executions would usually travelled a whole area since executions would rarely be very numerous. Still, especially if a resident, rarely be very numerous. Still, especially if a resident, he would often also administer non-lethal physical he would often also administer non-lethal physical punishments, or apply torture.punishments, or apply torture.

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Motives for CrimeMotives for CrimeMotives for crime were :Motives for crime were :

Need – poor persons took to crime to buy what they Need – poor persons took to crime to buy what they neededneeded

Gain - the person intended to sell the item stolen as in Gain - the person intended to sell the item stolen as in the case of smuggling, robbery or theft.the case of smuggling, robbery or theft.

Belief – some persons believed that the law was Belief – some persons believed that the law was wrong, so they took to crime as rebellions.wrong, so they took to crime as rebellions.


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