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Flashcards in Bloody Code Deck (30)
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1
Q

What was the population in England in 1500 and 1700?

A

The population between 1500 and 1700 increased dramatically, as in 1500 there was around 2.5 million people in England and by 1700 there were around 5-6 million people in England.

2
Q

Why did the roles of town constables and night watchmen increase?

A

The role of town constables and the night watcher grew to cope with increasing crime rates.

3
Q

What was the Bridewell Prison used for?

A

It was used to punish poor people who had broken the law.

4
Q

What was a thief taker?

A

A thief taker was paid a reward for catching a criminal and delivering them to the law.

5
Q

What was the bad part about thief takings?

A

This method was open to corruption as some criminals also operated as a thief taker and informed on rival criminal gangs to make money.

6
Q

What was the ‘Plead for belly’?

A

Pregnant women condemned to death often made a ‘plead fir belly’, asking to be allowed to live until the baby was born.

7
Q

What happened during the 17th century?

A

The number of crimes that carried the death penalty increased.

8
Q

Was the ‘Bloody Code’ ever unclear to the community?

A

Yes. As the penalties were so severe, executions were not always carried out.

9
Q

Why were so many crimes taking place?

A

Many crimes were committed out of desperation.

10
Q

What were witnesses to crime expected to do?

A

They were expected to try and stop suspects or report them to the authorities,

11
Q

What were the most common crimes in towns and cities?

A

Fraud and theft.

12
Q

Why were the town constables useful?

A

Because they had some powers to arrest suspects with out needing a warrant. They also helped with local administrative issues like collecting payments for road cleaning, as well as turning in serious criminals to the courts.

13
Q

In the 16th century, what were prisons used for?

A

Prisons often held petty criminals, vagrants and drunk disorderly offenders. They were put there to wait for their trials.

14
Q

Why were prison conditions poor?

A

Inmates had to pay the prison wardens for food and other basic needs like bedding, if they didn’t pay, they went without. Women, men and children were housed together, as well as petty criminals.

15
Q

Why was the prison flawed?

A

All inmates were made to do ‘hard labour’ to pay for their keep.

16
Q

What was their ‘hard labour’?

A

Most of the time, they had to break up rocks.

17
Q

What crimes were punishable by death?

A

Some were poaching rabbits or fish to eat.

18
Q

Why were the consequences of such petty crimes harsh and violent?

A

The intention at the time was to create a strong deterrent so that crime rates would be reduced.

19
Q

Why were crimes not always carried out?

A

Criminals could receive pardons if they could prove their previous good character.

20
Q

What was transportation?

A

Being sent away from England to serve a period of punishment in a colony abroad.

21
Q

Where were prisoners being put up for transportation sent to?

A

Transported prisoners were taken in chains to the East cost of North America.

22
Q

How long were these prisoners made to work for?

A

Those who were transported instead of being executed served for 14 years. Other had committed lesser crimes served a 7 year sentence.

23
Q

Why was transportation favoured by authorities?

A
  • It was seen as an effective deterrent
  • Prison was not a feasible alternative punishment
  • England wanted to establish permanent colonies in North America.
24
Q

What were transported children called?

A

‘Duty boys’ although a quarter of them were girls.

25
Q

Why were vagrants transported?

A

The homeless were blamed for spreading the plague and the authorities were happy to find solutions that led their permanent removal.

26
Q

Why did the authorities transport children?

A

Because authorities claimed that this was an opportunity for the children to start a new life, when in reality, many died.

27
Q

Why did so many children die onboard?

A

Because conditions on board ship and in the colonies were extremely tough.

28
Q

Why were night watchmen useful?

A

Watchmen were unpaid volunteers who also had to do their normal jobs to earn a living in the day. They rang bells at night to warn people to go home or risk being viewed as possible criminals. They worked from 10pm to dawn.

29
Q

What was built in 1556?

A

Bridewell Prison, London.

30
Q

Who was Jonathon Wild?

A

Jonathon Wild secretly led a gang of thieves who claimed rewards when they handed in the stolen goods. In 1718 he assumed the title ‘Thief Taker General’ and became a well-known figure. He was executed in 1725.