Punishments in Early Modern Society

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Continuity in Punishment During the Early Modern Period

The vast majority of punishments remained the same during the early modern period.

Stocks and pillory

The stocks and pillory was still used as a method of public humiliation.
Often this was used for those that could not afford to pay a fine.

Whipping and flogging

Whipping and flogging was a punishment that was once again used as public humiliation and also acted as a deterrent to others.

Prisons

Prisons were still used to hold those that were in debt and those awaiting trial or execution.

Treason

Treason resulted in the most serious punishment, hanging, drawing and quartering.

Changes in Punishment During the Early Modern Period

Whilst many punishments stayed the same, there were some large changes in attitudes. This resulted in some changes to the nature of punishments.

Houses of Correction

Houses of Correction were a new method of punishment from the 1500s which were designed to punish and reform criminals.
- The accused were forced to do hard labour and sometimes they were whipped.
The idea was that they would learn the error of their ways.

Transportation

Transportation began in the 1660s. Convicts were initially taken to America.
They were transported on large wooden ships known as Hulks.
Once in America convicts often led lives in conditions similar to slavery, although this punishment was considered to be a soft option in comparison to the Death Penalty.

Bloody Code

The Bloody Code was introduced in 1723 when the number of crimes punishable by death increased to 50.
Minor crimes such as poaching, cutting down live trees or going out at night with a blackened face were given the punishment of execution.
By 1765, the figure had increased to 160 crimes.
By 1815, 225 crimes were punishable by death.
- This explains the reason why this was known as the Bloody Code!

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

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