Crime in the Early Modern Period

Crime During the Early Modern Period

In the Early Modern period, many crimes continued to be important. Crimes of heresy and treason became more important than ever.

Heresy

This was a crime of religion, when you believe in a different religion to your Monarch.

Impact of the Reformation on heresy

The change in religion fuelled a period of uncertainty as successive Monarchs changed the religion again.
Edward VI continued in his Father’s footsteps declaring England as a protestant country, but Mary I, a devout Catholic changed it back again.
During the reign of Mary I, heresy was a particular problem, one which she took very seriously.
- During her 5 year reign, Mary burned 284 protestants at the stake for their beliefs.

Vagabondage

Being a vagrant or vagabond became a crime in the Early Modern period.
- This was mainly because people were moving around looking for work.
During periods of mass unemployment, people in towns and villages became increasingly concerned about vagabonds, fearing a rise in crime if they came to their local area.
- The local unemployed people were assisted financially by the town or village where they lived, thanks to the Poor Rates.
- However, residents were not happy to provide assistance to outsiders.

Vagabondage continued...

The media and pamphlets built up a frenzy about vagabonds travelling in huge packs and people were increasingly concerned, living in fear of them.
In reality, those arrested for this crime tended to be captured in small groups or travelling alone.
Reports of them speaking their own language are exaggerated and in reality this only really occurred in London.
The rise in numbers of vagabonds often happened during severe times of hardship, bad harvests and rising unemployment.

Witchcraft

Tensions between rich and poor had increased and again during times of hardship.
- People who had previously been cared for, such as the elderly, were looked upon differently.
The common scenario was that an elderly neighbour might ask for help from a wealthier neighbour.
When refused, they would wander away muttering or mumbling.
Later on, if something bad happened to the wealthier person the blame would be attributed to the elderly person.

Witchcraft continued...

The mumbles of the elderly woman would be taken to mean they were muttering spells to curse the neighbour for not providing assistance.
Often word then spreads around the village leading to many people accusing the poor elderly woman of witchcraft.

1Medieval England, 1000-1500

1.1Changing Definition of Crime in Medieval England

1.1.1Early Medieval Society

1.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

1.2.1Enforcing the Law in Medieval Society

1.2.2Punishments in Medieval England

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Medieval Society

1.3Case Studies From 1000-1500

1.3.1The Church

1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Church

1.3.3Grade 9 - Medieval England

2Early Modern England, 1500-1700

2.1Changing Definitions of Crime

2.1.1Early Modern Society

2.1.2Crime in the Early Modern Period

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Crime

2.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

2.2.1Punishments in Early Modern Society

2.2.2Law Enforcement in Early Modern Society

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Law Enforcement

2.2.4Grade 9 - Early Modern England

2.3Case Studies From 1500-1700

2.3.1Key Individuals

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies 1500-1700

2.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies From 1500-1700

318th & 19th Century Britain

3.1Changing Definition of Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.1Society in Industrial Britain

3.1.2Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Industrial Britain

3.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

3.2.1Punishment in Industrial Society

3.2.2Punishment in Industrial Society 2

3.2.3Policing in the Industrial Period

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment

3.3Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.1Changes to the Prison System

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.3Grade 9 - 18th & 19th Century

4Modern Britain, 1900-Present

4.1Changing Definition of Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.1Society in Modern Britain

4.1.2Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Modern Britain

4.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

4.2.1Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.2Attitudes Towards Punishment

4.2.3Capital Punishment

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.5Grade 9 - Modern Britain

4.3Case Studies 1900-2000

4.3.1Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies 1900-2000

5Whitechapel Local Study

5.1The Geographical Area & Living Conditions

5.1.1Accommodation in Whitechapel

5.1.2Living Conditions

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Whitechapel Local Study

5.2The People of Whitechapel

5.2.1Alcohol & Immigration

5.2.2Prostitution

5.2.3Racial Tensions

5.2.4End of Topic Test - The People of Whitechapel

5.2.5Grade 9 - Whitechapel

5.3Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.1The Police Force in Whitechapel

5.3.2Jack the Ripper

5.3.3Challenges Facing the Police

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.5Grade 9 - Policing Whitechapel

Jump to other topics