Why was the Bloody Code introduced in the 1700s Why was the Bloody Code introduced in the 1700s? Evaluating a dodgy internet site’s interpretation.

English King, Queen or rulers What do we know about them or their reign?

English King, Queen or rulers What involvement did they have in changing Crime and Punishment? 2.5 million people 6 million people

If you need to find out something quickly, something that you don’t know much about, how do you find out?

How do you know the information it tells you is correct? Ever used an internet encyclopaedia? How do you know the information it tells you is correct?

Why was the Bloody Code introduced? Using historical skills to check if an awful e-encylopedia is any use

www.internetpedia.com/BloodyCode Full The Bloody Code is the term that people in the 16th and 17th century gave to the harsh laws that punished more and more crimes by death. The number of crimes carrying the death penalty increased dramatically, from 50 to a staggering 225. This happened almost overnight. The first increase came in 1680. By 1682 over 200 crimes carried the death penalty.   But why did this phenomenon happen? One reason is the massive increase in crime in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Crime statistics suggest that crime in 1680 – 1700 was at a higher rate than at any other time since 1580. After the 1680s the crime rate stayed constantly high. It didn’t really fluctuate, even in times of bad harvests or when wars ended. Law makers rightly worried about the rise in crime in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Pamphlets and newspapers reported accurately what was happening. The government was forced to act. Society was out of control. One group of new criminals who had to be punished were vagrants. The authorities were worried about this group of people who were wandering around the country looking for a work. The authorities made vagrancy a capital offence because they were trying to protect everyone in the country from this crime wave. For the first time since the Saxons, the law makers had realised that harsh punishments could be used to deter others from committing crime. As the number of crimes carrying the death penalty increased, so did the number of people executed. Juries were happy to convict people who, they believed, deserved their fate. With no real alternative punishment there is little surprise that the number of people who were executed increased. Hardly anyone escaped the death penalty, juries didn’t spare anyone. Even if the accused displayed remorse, respect or had influential friends speak of their good character, they were always found guilty. It truly was a ‘bloody code’. Full

The Bloody Code The Bloody Code is the term that people in the 16th and 17th century gave to the harsh laws that punished more and more crimes by death. The number of crimes carrying the death penalty increased dramatically, from 50 to a staggering 225. This happened almost overnight. The first increase came in 1680. By 1682 over 200 crimes carried the death penalty. But why did this phenomena happen? One reason is the massive increase in crime in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Crime statistics suggest that crime in 1680 – 1700 was at a higher rate than at any other time since 1580. After the 1680s the crime rate stayed constantly high. It didn’t really fluctuate, even in times of bad harvests or when wars ended.

Use clues 1-5 Use the sources to check how accurate the e-account is? Re write the account and make it as accurate as possible. Try and back up your points with examples. Remember to use tentative language and hedge words if you need to. Use clues 1-5

Clue 1

The Bloody Code… Law makers rightly worried about the rise in crime in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Pamphlets and newspapers reported accurately what was happening. The government was forced to act. Society was out of control. One group of new criminals who had to be punished were vagrants. The authorities were worried about this group of people who were wandering around the country looking for a work. The authorities made vagrancy a capital offence because they were trying to protect everyone in the country from this crime wave. For the first time since the Saxons, the law makers had realised that harsh punishments could be used to deter others from committing crime. As the number of crimes carrying the death penalty increased, so did the number of people executed. Juries were happy to convict people who, they believed, deserved their fate. With no real alternative punishment there is little surprise that the number of people who were executed increased. Hardly anyone escaped the death penalty, juries didn’t spare anyone. Even if the accused displayed remorse, respect or had influential friends speak of their good character, they were always found guilty. It truly was a ‘bloody code’.

Use clues 6-9 Use the clues to check how accurate the e-account is? Re write the account and make it as accurate as possible. Try and back up your points with examples. Remember to use tentative language and hedge words if you need to. Use clues 6-9

Types of Crimes in the Early modern period 1500-1750 Punishment Purpose

Why was the Bloody Code introduced in? Government/ law makers Church and Religion Travel and technology Why was the Bloody Code introduced in? Attitudes / beliefs / values Media Wealth and poverty Urbanisation Key individuals

Use the links diagram worksheet. Are there factors arrange the edge that helped to explain why the Bloody Coe was introduced? If yes draw a line from that factor to the central circle. Can you add any other reasons / factors of your own? Write a sentence on the line explaining how the factor helped cause the change in punishments Do any of your identified factors link? Draw a line between them and explain how they worked together to make the punishments become more harsh.

Answering exam questions In your GCSE exam you will be asked to answer questions like this one: Why did law makers change punishments and make them harsher in 1700? 12 marks

Deciding what the question type is? De coding exam questions Answering exam questions Deciding what the question type is? Exam question: Why did law makers change punishments and make them harsher in the 1700s? 12 marks This history exam will ask you a number of different types of questions: To describe what something is like (to make it clear what something looks like or works like) To explain why things changed or stayed the same To make a judgement on how far you agree with a statement What type of question is this one?

Answering exam questions Why did law makers change punishments and make them harsher in the 1700s? 12 marks Good luck!

Revision Use your factor cards. Which cards can you use to explain why laws makers changed punishments and made them harsher in the 1700s??

The media Wealth and poverty Individuals Church and religion Attitudes / beliefs / values Wealth and poverty Urbanisation Travel and technology Government / lawmakers Individuals Church and religion