18th and 19th Century Britain

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  • Created by: alina_ts
  • Created on: 22-11-21 21:01

18th and 19th Century Britain

Crimes against a person and property: 

There was a change in how these crimes were committed which led to law changes, crime rates increased dramatically especially with crimes against property. 

Factors causing increased Crime:

street theft | disordely behaviour | prostitution | public disorder

- people travelling into towns, less tight-knit communities, unfamiliar with people       
- larger towns, easier to escape            
- criminals became professionals within gangs          
- extreme poverty led to survival crimes, stealing food

HIGHWAY ROBBERY was seen as a crime against the person, this increased in the 18th century because:        
- improved roads meant more travelling         
- increased trade between towns, more goods and money were transported by road      
- many roads were isolated, easy getaway 

To reduce highway robbery, it became a capital crime to be armed on a high road. Patrols were planted on major roads and the growth of the railway reduced highway robberies. 

Changes in Poaching and Smuggling

Poaching - a crime against property. This increased in the 18th Century with gangs working on large scales, this led to the Waltham Black Act which made poaching a capital crime. It was seen as unfair and was repealed in 1823

Smugglimy - a crime against property. Increased due to the high tax rate on imported goods, large profits made by these. It became difficult to prosecute smugglers, so taxes were cut in the 1840s and smuggling decreased. 

Crimes Against Authority

Witchcraft: all laws were appealed related to witches, but people who calimed to use magic were subjected to fines and imprisonmen. It stopped being a crime because the economy was more socially stable, some people believed in the devil but some were more educated and the Royal Society set by Charles II explained some of these bizarre events. 

The Tolpuddle Martyrs

1834, In Tolpuddle, Dorset, a group of farm workers formed a 'friendly society' to protest wages. 
Farm owners and the government feared they lost control of their workers.    
Six men arrested for taking secret oaths - old law intended to stop 'naval mutinies.   
Six found guilty, 7 years transportation to deter others forming trade unions.  
News of this spread, causing mass protests and petitions, 200,000 signatures.  
Home Secretary still continued the sentence.    
Protests continued and in 1836 they were pardoned.

Significance:

- highlights authorities punishments for those who they see as threats.      
- government protect the employers interests at the expense of the workers       
- pardoning illustrates the power of a public opinion        
- the martyrs inspired people to fight for workers rights 

Law Enforcement:

Continutity:

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