Punishment in Industrial Society

The End of the Bloody Code

This period witnessed some huge changes in attitudes towards punishment. This led to the end of the Bloody Code in the 1820s.

Changing attitudes to punishment

Juries were increasingly unwilling to find people guilty and sentence them to death.
Many felt that often the punishment was unfair in proportion to the crime committed.
As a result, criminals were more confident about avoiding the death penalty altogether.

Changing attitudes to the death penalty

In the 1700s, 40% of those sentenced to death were actually hanged.
By the 1800s this figure had dropped to 10% being executed, despite there being a rise in crime.

The problem of public executions

Public executions taking place at Tyburn in London were a hotbed of criminal activity.
Rather than being a deterrent, you would find opportunists at executions picking pockets, selling stolen goods or enjoying a good afternoon out drinking.

Transportation in Industrial England

This period witnessed some huge changes in attitudes towards punishment. This led to the ending of transportation.

Transportation to the colonies

The transportation of convicts to American Colonies ended in 1775 when America secured their independence, meaning that an alternative location needed to be found.
Australia had been discovered by Captain James Cook and this looked like a viable alternative.

The journey for convicts

Convicts were kept on prison Hulks awaiting transportation. Here they would have been chained together doing hard labour.
Once convicts had undergone the 9-month journey to Australia they would have been settled with a master.
- The experience they had whilst in Australia would be hugely dependent on who they lived with and worked for.
Good behaviour could lead to the award of a ‘ticket of leave’ entitling you to return to England.

Was transportation a success?

There was much debate around whether transportation was actually a success or failure.
It was a popular punishment as juries were more willing to convict criminals to transportation over execution.

Crime rates in England

Crime actually increased in England which suggests that this punishment was not really the deterrent it was designed to be.

Convicts in Australia

The majority of convicts chose to remain in Australia once they had completed their sentences and in some cases became well-respected members of the community, suggesting life was more appealing there than back in England.

The cost of transportation

The process of transporting criminals cost the government millions of pounds.
When gold was discovered in 1851 people actually wanted to go to Australia which again challenged the view that it was a place to suffer a punishment.

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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