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A Brief History of Crime and Punishment
๐ชทLois๐ชท
@lois_evs
1 / 4
Tudor and Stuart Crime: When Survival Became Criminal
Ever wondered why certain crimes were common in the past? During the 16th century, poverty exploded for several key reasons that you can remember with HIPS: population growth (from 2.9 to 4.5 million people), bad harvests driving up food prices, inflation making wages worthless, and farming changes as people switched to sheep farming.
Henry VIII made things worse by closing monasteries through the Dissolution, which had provided vital help to desperate people. Unemployed soldiers returning from wars also roamed the country in gangs, adding to the crime problem.
Most crimes were still theft and violence, but new problems emerged. Vagrancy (poor people wandering for work) increased massively. Religious changes brought more heresy cases, especially under "Bloody Mary." Treason became a serious concern as people challenged royal authority.
Quick Tip: Remember that Henry VIII's 1534 Treason Law made it deadly to criticise the royal family or support the Pope - even words could get you executed!
Industrial Revolution to Modern Times: Crime Goes Urban
The 19th century saw crime patterns shift as Britain's population exploded from 16 to 42 million, mostly packed into growing towns and cities. These crowded, unsanitary conditions created perfect breeding grounds for petty crime - imagine thousands of people crammed together with terrible living standards and limited opportunities.
Economic problems after the Napoleonic Wars (1815) and agricultural depressions meant many turned to crime for survival. The dense urban areas offered new criminal opportunities like pickpocketing that simply didn't exist in rural communities.
Modern crime has definitely increased, but it's complicated. Yes, we have genuinely new crimes like cybercrime, car theft, drug-related offences, and terrorism . However, improved police methods and better crime recording make it seem like crime has risen more than it actually has.
Did You Know: The 21st century's terrorism threat mainly comes from religious extremism linked to groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS, making it very different from historical political rebellions.
Smuggling and Highway Robbery: The 'Romantic' Crimes
Smuggling became massive business in the 18th and 19th centuries because the government desperately needed money for wars, so they whacked huge custom duties on imported goods. Many people saw this as a "social crime" - not really criminal because it helped ordinary folk afford things like tea (taxed at 119%!).
The coastline was impossible to police properly, and plenty of investors were happy to finance this lucrative trade. People loved getting cheap goods without paying taxes, creating a thriving black market.
Highway robbery thrived for similar reasons: unpoliced roads, demobbed soldiers needing money, increased travel and wealth, plus limited banking meant people carried cash. Coaching inns encouraged long-distance travel, and guns were easily available.
Both crimes declined when the government got smart. They reduced custom duties (tea dropped from 119% to 12% by 1784) and eventually adopted free trade in the 1840s. Highway robbery died out as roads got busier, banknotes became traceable, and the Horse Patrol was established in 1805.
Remember: The government solved smuggling by making it unprofitable, not by catching more smugglers - sometimes changing the law works better than enforcing it!
Industrial Revolution Crime and Social Protest
The Industrial Revolution created a perfect storm for crime, which you can remember with PEPCO: rising population in cities, economic hardship especially after 1815, protests about terrible working conditions, awful living conditions, and new criminal opportunities in crowded areas.
When people are crammed into cities, working in dangerous factories, and living in squalor, crime becomes an attractive alternative. The end of the Napoleonic Wars made things worse as unemployed soldiers returned home to find no work available.
The Rebecca Riots (1839-1843) show how desperate people became. Poor farmers in South-West Wales, fed up with rising rents and road tolls, formed gangs and dressed as women to attack toll gates. This wasn't random crime - it was organised protest against unfair treatment.
These riots highlight how social conditions directly influenced crime patterns. When people feel the system is unfair and they can't survive legally, they'll often turn to illegal methods - whether that's individual theft or organised rebellion.
Key Point: The Rebecca Riots weren't just random violence - they were calculated protests by communities pushed beyond their breaking point by economic hardship.
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because itโs too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
A Brief History of Crime and Punishment
๐ชทLois๐ชท
@lois_evs
Crime and punishment in British history changed dramatically based on what was happening in society at the time. From Tudor times through to today, different periods brought new types of crimes and new reasons why people broke the law.
Tudor and Stuart Crime: When Survival Became Criminal
Ever wondered why certain crimes were common in the past? During the 16th century, poverty exploded for several key reasons that you can remember with HIPS: population growth (from 2.9 to 4.5 million people), bad harvests driving up food prices, inflation making wages worthless, and farming changes as people switched to sheep farming.
Henry VIII made things worse by closing monasteries through the Dissolution, which had provided vital help to desperate people. Unemployed soldiers returning from wars also roamed the country in gangs, adding to the crime problem.
Most crimes were still theft and violence, but new problems emerged. Vagrancy (poor people wandering for work) increased massively. Religious changes brought more heresy cases, especially under "Bloody Mary." Treason became a serious concern as people challenged royal authority.
Quick Tip: Remember that Henry VIII's 1534 Treason Law made it deadly to criticise the royal family or support the Pope - even words could get you executed!
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Industrial Revolution to Modern Times: Crime Goes Urban
The 19th century saw crime patterns shift as Britain's population exploded from 16 to 42 million, mostly packed into growing towns and cities. These crowded, unsanitary conditions created perfect breeding grounds for petty crime - imagine thousands of people crammed together with terrible living standards and limited opportunities.
Economic problems after the Napoleonic Wars (1815) and agricultural depressions meant many turned to crime for survival. The dense urban areas offered new criminal opportunities like pickpocketing that simply didn't exist in rural communities.
Modern crime has definitely increased, but it's complicated. Yes, we have genuinely new crimes like cybercrime, car theft, drug-related offences, and terrorism . However, improved police methods and better crime recording make it seem like crime has risen more than it actually has.
Did You Know: The 21st century's terrorism threat mainly comes from religious extremism linked to groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS, making it very different from historical political rebellions.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Smuggling and Highway Robbery: The 'Romantic' Crimes
Smuggling became massive business in the 18th and 19th centuries because the government desperately needed money for wars, so they whacked huge custom duties on imported goods. Many people saw this as a "social crime" - not really criminal because it helped ordinary folk afford things like tea (taxed at 119%!).
The coastline was impossible to police properly, and plenty of investors were happy to finance this lucrative trade. People loved getting cheap goods without paying taxes, creating a thriving black market.
Highway robbery thrived for similar reasons: unpoliced roads, demobbed soldiers needing money, increased travel and wealth, plus limited banking meant people carried cash. Coaching inns encouraged long-distance travel, and guns were easily available.
Both crimes declined when the government got smart. They reduced custom duties (tea dropped from 119% to 12% by 1784) and eventually adopted free trade in the 1840s. Highway robbery died out as roads got busier, banknotes became traceable, and the Horse Patrol was established in 1805.
Remember: The government solved smuggling by making it unprofitable, not by catching more smugglers - sometimes changing the law works better than enforcing it!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Industrial Revolution Crime and Social Protest
The Industrial Revolution created a perfect storm for crime, which you can remember with PEPCO: rising population in cities, economic hardship especially after 1815, protests about terrible working conditions, awful living conditions, and new criminal opportunities in crowded areas.
When people are crammed into cities, working in dangerous factories, and living in squalor, crime becomes an attractive alternative. The end of the Napoleonic Wars made things worse as unemployed soldiers returned home to find no work available.
The Rebecca Riots (1839-1843) show how desperate people became. Poor farmers in South-West Wales, fed up with rising rents and road tolls, formed gangs and dressed as women to attack toll gates. This wasn't random crime - it was organised protest against unfair treatment.
These riots highlight how social conditions directly influenced crime patterns. When people feel the system is unfair and they can't survive legally, they'll often turn to illegal methods - whether that's individual theft or organised rebellion.
Key Point: The Rebecca Riots weren't just random violence - they were calculated protests by communities pushed beyond their breaking point by economic hardship.
We thought youโd never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Worker Conditions
Most popular content in History
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us โ and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because itโs too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because itโs too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user