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Questions and Answers
Which crime was punishable by death under the Witchcraft and Conjuration Act of 1604?
Which crime was punishable by death under the Witchcraft and Conjuration Act of 1604?
The Hue and Cry practice was discontinued during the Early Modern Period.
The Hue and Cry practice was discontinued during the Early Modern Period.
False
Name one aspect of law enforcement that did not change from the Anglo-Saxon to the Norman period.
Name one aspect of law enforcement that did not change from the Anglo-Saxon to the Norman period.
Hue and Cry
The _____ Act of 1671 made poaching illegal.
The _____ Act of 1671 made poaching illegal.
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Match the following Early Modern period laws with their descriptions:
Match the following Early Modern period laws with their descriptions:
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Which of the following was a result of the enclosure movement in the Early Modern period?
Which of the following was a result of the enclosure movement in the Early Modern period?
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James I eased the penalties for witchcraft during his reign.
James I eased the penalties for witchcraft during his reign.
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What practice was used by towns to deal with serious crime during the Early Modern period?
What practice was used by towns to deal with serious crime during the Early Modern period?
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What was one primary function of the blue uniform worn by police officers?
What was one primary function of the blue uniform worn by police officers?
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In 1823, the Black Act was still enforceable and made poaching punishable by death.
In 1823, the Black Act was still enforceable and made poaching punishable by death.
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What specialized unit was established in 1842 to solve crimes?
What specialized unit was established in 1842 to solve crimes?
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The introduction of the 1856 Police Act aimed to ensure that all police forces agreed on the main aim of policing, which was __________.
The introduction of the 1856 Police Act aimed to ensure that all police forces agreed on the main aim of policing, which was __________.
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What innovative methods did the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) employ to solve crimes by 1878?
What innovative methods did the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) employ to solve crimes by 1878?
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Match the following punishments or laws to their descriptions:
Match the following punishments or laws to their descriptions:
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The use of mounted patrols was a successful strategy against highway robbery.
The use of mounted patrols was a successful strategy against highway robbery.
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What was seen as a more humane alternative to the death penalty for petty crimes during the period?
What was seen as a more humane alternative to the death penalty for petty crimes during the period?
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Which punishment was considered most severe by the end of the 20th century?
Which punishment was considered most severe by the end of the 20th century?
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Transportation to Australia ended in the 1800s.
Transportation to Australia ended in the 1800s.
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Name one form of corporal punishment used during the Middle Ages.
Name one form of corporal punishment used during the Middle Ages.
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Murdrum fines were associated with the ________ period.
Murdrum fines were associated with the ________ period.
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Match the following punishments with the period they were most associated with:
Match the following punishments with the period they were most associated with:
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What was the primary punishment for serious crimes in the Saxon period?
What was the primary punishment for serious crimes in the Saxon period?
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Stocks and pillories were only used during the Industrial period.
Stocks and pillories were only used during the Industrial period.
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Which punishment gradually reduced towards the end of the 20th century?
Which punishment gradually reduced towards the end of the 20th century?
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Which law was broken by the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
Which law was broken by the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
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Transportation to Australia began in the 18th century.
Transportation to Australia began in the 18th century.
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What book was published by John Howard?
What book was published by John Howard?
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The police service brought under the control of the national government was the __________.
The police service brought under the control of the national government was the __________.
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Who started the Bow Street Runners?
Who started the Bow Street Runners?
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Which city was policed by the Metropolitan Police Force?
Which city was policed by the Metropolitan Police Force?
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Name two famous highwaymen.
Name two famous highwaymen.
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Life was tough for farm workers in the town of __________.
Life was tough for farm workers in the town of __________.
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Match the following terms with their definitions or context:
Match the following terms with their definitions or context:
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What was the purpose of capital punishment being used for new crimes like poaching?
What was the purpose of capital punishment being used for new crimes like poaching?
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Trial by ordeal was often a method used to determine guilt by local courts before the Pope ended it.
Trial by ordeal was often a method used to determine guilt by local courts before the Pope ended it.
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What was the effect of the Benefit of the Clergy on those who could prove their connection to the Church?
What was the effect of the Benefit of the Clergy on those who could prove their connection to the Church?
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The Church could provide __________ to individuals on the run from the law for a period of 40 days.
The Church could provide __________ to individuals on the run from the law for a period of 40 days.
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Match the following punishments with their descriptions:
Match the following punishments with their descriptions:
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What could happen after 40 days of sanctuary in the Church?
What could happen after 40 days of sanctuary in the Church?
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Church courts were allowed to sentence individuals to death.
Church courts were allowed to sentence individuals to death.
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What did the Statute of Labourers make illegal?
What did the Statute of Labourers make illegal?
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Study Notes
The Church in Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages
- People believed the Church could save them from hell
- The Church was allowed to collect taxes from the people
- The Church had a wide-ranging influence over people
Trial by Ordeal
- The Church could decide if someone was guilty of a crime by using hot iron, hot water and cold water
- This was used if the local court’s could not decide guilt
- In the later Middle Ages the Pope ended trial by ordeal
- The King was angry because he relied on this justice
Church Courts
- The Church claimed the right to put on trial any churchman who committed a crime
- Churches dealt with moral crimes such as drunkenness and adultery
- Church courts never sentenced people to death
- The King could do nothing to stop any of this
Benefit of the Clergy
- If someone committed a crime but could prove they had a connection to the Church they could claim benefit of the clergy
- This meant they avoided the King’s courts and would be tried in the more lenient Church court
- To claim benefit of the clergy, you had to prove you were a member of the Church by reading a verse from the bible
Sanctuary
- If someone was on the run from the law and made it to a Church that offered sanctuary, the Church would keep that person safe for 40 days
- After 40 days the criminal could either hand themselves over to the King’s authorities or leave the country walking to the nearest port barefoot carrying a cross and vow never to return
Later Middle Ages Background
- The power of the king’s continued to increase
- Parliament assisted the king in making some laws
- The king sometimes worked with the Church when it came to crime
New Later Middle Ages Crimes
- The Statute of Labourers made it a crime to demand higher wages
Early Modern Period 1500-1700 Crimes
- Monarchs were now the head of the Church.
- If you followed a different religion to the monarch, you were considered a traitor for questioning them and a heretic for going against their religion
- Henry VIII passed the witchcraft Act that made witchcraft punishable by death
- Elizabeth I eased witchcraft laws stating only witchcraft that caused death had the death penalty
- James I passed a law called the Witchcraft and Conjuration Act in 1604 that gave the death penalty to anyone summoning evil spirits
- The witchfinder Matthew Hopkins used tricks to find witches
- With the enlightenment (using science) this hysteria ended by 1700.
- Poaching was due to enclosure (fencing off fields) but many people still poached food from there.
- The 1671 Game Act made poaching illegal and a crime.
- Vagabondage was due to a rising population and a lack of jobs.
- The Vagrancy Act of 1547 made it illegal to beg.
- Smuggling was done to avoid paying custom duties (tax).
- The Puritan government made it illegal to attend sports on Sunday, drink alcohol, and celebrate Christmas.
Early Modern Period 1500-1700 Law Enforcement
- Hue and Cry continued.
- Rewards for the most serious crimes were still used.
- Justices of the Peace - Important local men were still used in larger towns. Constable assisted them.
- Constables sometimes hired others to help.
- Night watchmen were supposed to deter criminals or catch them in the act.
- Police wore a blue uniform and a top hat.
- In 1842 a specialised detective unit was set up to solve crimes. Detectives wore plain clothes.
- In 1878 the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was set up. Over 1000 detectives belonged to this and they now used fingerprints and handwriting investigations to solve crimes.
- Outside London improvements were slow until the government introduced the 1856 Police Act. All police forces were now inspected by the government and all agreed the main aim of policing should be deterrence.
Other Laws
- It was illegal to blacken or disguise face , have animal capturing items or hunting dogs.
- The government tried to deal with poaching by passing the 1723 Black Act that made poaching a capital offence (execution).
- Anti-poaching laws were hugely resented and in 1823 the Black Act was dropped. Poaching was still illegal but was no longer punishable by death.
- Mounted patrols (police on horseback) made the roads more secure.
- The growth of the banking system meant people no longer had to carry their money (Highway robbery)
Industrial Punishments (1700-1900)
- Transportation to Australia was a punishment for petty crimes such as theft.
- Transportation was seen as a more humane alternative to the death penalty.
- Early prisons could not hold large numbers. Prisoners could populate the new colony and be forced to do work there.
- Prisoners were often held in disused ships know as hulks. They would then be transported below decks in cramped conditions for up to 3 months.
- The sentence was usually for 7 years but released convicts could not afford to return home so stayed in Australia.
- Transportation to Australia ended in 1868 due to changing attitudes.
- Many people believed ex-convicts were responsible for crime in new towns.
- Free settlers in Australia also argued convict workers were making it so there were less jobs or employers could pay lower wages.
Industrial Period Case Study 1 Tolpuddle Martyrs
- The French Revolution in 1789 saw the French monarchy being overthrown. The government became terrified it happening in Britain.
- Landowners and politicians viewed every protest as a potential riot uprising.
- They were particularly anxious about the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union, which aimed to give workers better conditions.
- Trade unions were not illegal but employers believed that by demanding better pay & conditions, unions threatened their interests.
- Life was tough for farm workers in the town of Tolpuddle.
- Local labourers led by George Loveless asked for their wages to be increased. Their request was denied and their wages were cut even more.
- Loveless set up a trade union, the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers, that was designed to protest against their low wages. They took an oath to help each other.
- The government didn’t like this new Friendly society and used an old navy law about not taking secret oaths and applied it to Loveless and his men to make up a crime.
Comparing Punishments From Middle Ages to Early Modern Period
- Saxon and Norman Periods: Capital punishment (hangings), corporal punishments (whippings & mutilation) , stocks & pillories, wergild (fines) and murdrum(fines)
- Early Modern Period: Prisons (rarely used) Transportation to America, Bloody Code, Transportation to Australia, Public Shamings including stocks and pillories, Whippings.
- Industrial Period: Transportation to Australia (ends in the 1800s), Bloody Code (ends in the 1800s), Prisons (heavily used from 1800s).
- Modern Period: Prison (most severe punishment by the end of the 20th century), Death penalty slowly reduces and finally ends in 20th century, Youth borstals and then youth custody centres, Detention centres, Community service , Fines.
Exam Style Questions
- Explain one way in which crime in the Middle Ages was similar to crime in the 18th century. Crime in the Middle Ages and the 18th century both included the act of poaching.
- Explain why there was changes to policing in the period between 1700 and 1900. Policing was more streamlined and developed during the 18th and 19th centuries. The move toward a professional police force started with the introduction of town constables who would sometimes hire others to help. This eventually led to the formation of a specialized detective unit and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
- The role of reformers was the main reason why prison conditions improved in the 19th century. How far do you agree? Explain your answer. Reformers were crucial in improving prison conditions during 19th century. John Howard, for example, highlighted the brutal conditions of prisons and led the way in advocating for reform. His book, "The State of the Prisons," brought attention to the inhumane treatment of prisoners. In addition to the work of reformers, other factors also contributed to the improvement of prison conditions. Growing public awareness of the harsh punishments, the rise of humanitarianism, and the development of new penological theories helped to change attitudes towards prisoners and the prison system.
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Description
Explore the significant role of the Church in the justice system during the Middle Ages. This quiz covers topics such as trial by ordeal, Church courts, and the benefits granted to clergy members. Test your knowledge on how the Church influenced law and order in this historical period.
