Crime and punishment 1500 - 1750

What factors affected crime and punishment 1500 - 1750?

• Developments in crime
  • Most crime was theft of money, food, an belonging usually for low value
  • Violent crimes were a small minority
  • The rate of crime increased in the 16th century and early 17th century
  • The rate of crime decreased after that and became much lower
  • Some crimes and criminals became known because they were very common or got publicity in pamphlets and broadsheets ( An early type of newspaper )
  • New types of criminals included:
    • Vagabonds
      • Poverty and unemployment lead people to go around looking for work and food.
      • Some were criminals already or turned to crime in desperation.
    • Highwaymen
      • A danger by masked riders from the mid-seventeenth century onwards.
      • More people were travelling by coach, providing an easy target for thieves.
    • Smugglers
      • High taxes on many imports - meant that there was larger market for smuggled goods at lower prices.
      • In the 1700's government revenue officers could not control the well organised smugglers.
    • Poachers
      • Hunting deer or rabbits were punishable by death
      • Poaching was part of many peoples lives.
• The belief that crime was increasing
  • Despite the fall in crime in the late 1600's people still believed crime was increasing:
    • The invention of printing -
      • By the late 1600's there was a market for broadsheets which attracted readers with tales of violent crimes.
      • Earlier pamphlets were published about crimes such as vagabondage and witchcraft.
    • Changes in religion
      • 1530's Henry VIII created Church of England - A change in ruling religion
      • Led to many religious protests and rebellions
      • English civil war
      • Made many people feel insecure for decades afterwards
• Methods…