Summary notes for GCSE History, Crime and Punishment c1000-present
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Course
History
Institution
GCSE
Summary notes for the Edexcel GCSE Crime and Punishment module, covering the period from medieval England to modern-day Britain. This resource includes notes on crimes, punishments, and the evolution of law enforcement. Organized in a concise and easy-to-digest format, it also features summaries of...
1. Theft:
○ The most common crime due to widespread poverty.
○ Varied from petty theft (e.g., stealing food) to more significant property crimes
(e.g., livestock, tools).
2. Murder:
○ Included both premeditated killings and manslaughter.
○ Murder rates were influenced by social conflicts, such as feuds and local
disputes.
3. Rebellion and Treason:
○ Acts against the king or state, such as plotting against the monarch or
participating in uprisings (e.g., the Peasants' Revolt of 1381).
○ Considered the most serious crimes due to their threat to stability and order.
4. Moral Crimes:
○ Crimes like adultery and fornication, often tried in church courts.
○ Blasphemy and heresy were also significant, especially post-1200s with the
growing power of the Church.
5. Witchcraft and Sorcery:
○ While not as prevalent as in later periods, accusations of witchcraft were
sometimes made, especially during periods of social stress.
Punishments
1. Capital Punishment:
○ Executions for severe crimes such as murder, treason, and arson.
○ Methods included hanging, beheading, and burning at the stake (rare).
2. Corporal Punishment:
○ Physical punishments designed to deter crime and publicly shame offenders.
○ Included flogging, mutilation (e.g., cutting off a hand for theft), and being placed
in the stocks or pillory.
3. Fines:
○ Monetary penalties were common for lesser crimes and misdemeanors.
○ The amount could vary based on the severity of the crime and the social status of
the offender.
4. Imprisonment:
○ Less common due to the cost and lack of facilities.
○ Used primarily for holding accused persons before trial or as a temporary
punishment.
5. Public Humiliation:
○ Offenders might be paraded through the streets or subjected to scorn in public
places.
○ Stocks and pillories were commonly used for this purpose.
Law Enforcement
1. Community-Based Systems:
, ○ Tithings: Groups of ten households responsible for each other's behavior. If one
member committed a crime, others were responsible for bringing them to justice.
○ Hue and Cry: If a crime was witnessed, citizens were expected to raise the
alarm and pursue the criminal together.
2. Manorial Courts:
○ Local lords held courts to deal with minor offenses and disputes on their estates.
○ These courts had significant control over local justice.
3. Royal Courts:
○ Handled serious crimes and cases that affected the king's interests.
○ Established more standardized legal procedures, such as trial by jury.
4. Trial by Ordeal:
○ Used when there was not enough evidence for a conviction.
○ Involved physical tests believed to be judged by God, such as holding a red-hot
iron or being submerged in water.
○ Abolished in 1215 by the Fourth Lateran Council.
5. Church Courts:
○ Dealt with moral crimes, clergy offenses, and issues of canon law.
○ Generally more lenient, focusing on penance rather than harsh punishments.
6. Constables and Watchmen:
○ Local constables were appointed to maintain order and carry out the decisions of
the courts.
○ Watchmen were responsible for patrolling towns at night to prevent crime and
fires.
Notable figures and events
1. King Henry II (1133-1189):
○ Reformed the legal system, establishing the foundation for English common law.
○ Introduced the Assize of Clarendon (1166), which set procedures for criminal
justice, including the use of juries.
2. Thomas Becket (1119-1170):
○ Archbishop of Canterbury whose conflict with Henry II over the rights and
privileges of the Church led to his murder in 1170.
○ His martyrdom highlighted the tensions between secular and ecclesiastical law.
3. The Peasants' Revolt (1381):
○ Major uprising against feudal injustices, including high taxes and serfdom.
○ Led to harsh repressive measures, including executions and the reinforcement of
social hierarchies.
Early Modern England (1500-1700)
Crimes
1. Vagrancy:
○ Increase in poverty led to a rise in vagrancy.
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