EM CNP FACT RECALL

Reformation Movement: who, when, what and why, and who were protestants

1517 German Priest Martin Luther protested against what he saw as corruption in the Catholic church. Luthers followers (those who wanted the church reform) became known as protestants

What was the biggest flunctuating change in the country and how did this impact the laws + what did it show power of

The changes between Catholicism and Protestantism by the ruling monarchs frequently changes the definition of crime and changed everyday religious acts of Protestants and Christians into criminal activities.

Power of Monarch in deciding what criminal activity is

Why was holding beliefs that were different to the monarch treated so seriously

• Divine Right of Kings – Monarchs ruled by God’s will, so opposing their religious authority was both a crime against the state and against God.

• Religious Uniformity – Different beliefs threatened national unity, especially during the Reformation (Henry VIII, Elizabeth I).

• Heresy and Treason Laws – Disagreeing with the monarch’s religion was punishable by death (e.g., burning under Mary I, execution under Elizabeth I).

• Fear of Rebellion – Religious opposition often led to plots (e.g., Catholic threats to Elizabeth I like the Throckmorton Plot, 1583).

• Strict Punishments – Fines, imprisonment, and executions (e.g., recusancy fines for Catholics under Elizabeth I) enforced religious conformity.

Name 5 monarchs in order and the religions they had

-Henry VIII- catholic: executed protestants for heresy and catholics for treason as they would not take the oath of supremacy acknowledging Henry as head of the church of England

-Edward VI- protestant: imprisoned catholics bishops and executed 2 people for heresy

-Mary I-catholic- 300 protestants executed as heretics

-Elizabeth I- protestant: 1570 exocommunicated by the pope , prosecuted catholics for recusancy

-James I-Protestant- 1605 Popish recusants act forced Catholics to swear loyalty to the king and pay heavy fines for not attending church

what was the pamphlet about (VAGRANCY)

Pamphlet about the dangers of beggers

what categories did the pamphlet include

drummerers-those pretending to be deaf and mute

drunken tinkers-thieves using trade as a cover story

priggers of prancers-horse thieves

kinchin morts-girl beggars

When was the first vagrancy act passed

1547

what were the terms of the first vagrancy act

an able bodied vagabond who was without work for more than 3 days was to be branded with the letter V and sold as a slave for 2 years

when was the 2nd vagrancy act

1597- Act for the relief of the poor

what were the terms of the 2nd Vagrancy Act

whipping and burning the ear using a hot iron

when was the 3rd vagrancy law and what was it

1601 poor laws

what did the 3rd vagrancy act do and what was the aim of the act

aimed to make the system for dealing with vagrants more consistent by making it compulsory for all local parishes to provide poor relief for anyone who was physically unable to work- known as the deserving poor-elderly and disabled. However the undeserving poor were punished severely- branded/whipped/sent to house of correction to be forced to work

what did powerful landlords do in order to prevent large areas of poor from being accessed by poor

enclosure

what came as a result of enclosure

harder for village people to survive and added to the flow of rural poor away from villages and into towns in search of paid work.

When was the Game Act

1671

what did the game act do

made it illegal to take food from privately owned enclosures

how was the game act a continuity

it continued the social crime- poaching

why did smuggling rise

the government introduced import duties on international goods like tea and alcohol which was a luxury product which meant there was profit available to those who smuggle them into the country and avoid import duties

why was smuggling viewed as a social crime

it benefitted both the rich and the poor

Who was Oliver Cromwell

Leader of the parliamentary forces who took the title lord protector in 1653

What was introduced during the protectorate

Sunday sabbath day instead of playing sport after church-sunday kept holy day.

Drinking,was banned because it led to badbenaviour and the Puritan idea that people needed to control their appetites

.

Celebrating Christmas was banned because it was a holy day so people had to read the bible in silence and think about Jesus

What were Cromwell protectorate rules an example of ( in terms og power)

. Example of governments central control in CNP

When was recusancy decriminalised

1650

What was recusancy

The laws that said everyone had to go to church or pay a fine

Why did traditional law enforcement methods become ineffective

Growth of towns

What continued in em law enforcement

Witnesses still expected to try l stop suspect or report them to authorities

Local still expected to join hue and cry to Chase down criminals and bring them to justice

What was the population in 1500 compared to 1700

1500 - 2.5 million

1700-5-6 million

What was the population of London

50,000

2 new lava enforcementraes

Night watchmen- volunteers who took turns to patrol the local area between 10pm and dawn - expectation of males in the town

Town Constable - employed by town authorities to help with local administrative issues like collecting payments. Breakup fights and round up sturdy beggars had power to arrest suspects and expected to turn in serious criminals to the courts

What was a thief taker and why were they introduced

Paid to catch criminal and deliver them to the law due to the ineffective constables and watchmen

What was the draw back to thief takers and give an example

Open to corruption as criminals could operate as thief taker Lfor profit

For example Jonathan Wild who sercretly led a gang of thieves who claimed the rewards when they handed in the stolen goods in 1718 he became known as the thief taker general he was executed in 1725

Why did stocks and pillory increase

Public humiliation was a deterrent that was effective

What were most crimes given the punishment for in the 17th century

Transportation to North America

What were prisons used for in the early 16th century

Used as holding cells for convicts who awaited trial or for a punishment to be carried out

What were the conditions like in a prison in the early 16th century

Inmates had to pay prison wardens for food and other basic needs like bedding

Women men and children housed together

Petty criminals and violent offenders housed together

Young offenders often bullied or schooled into becoming more serious criminals when released

Many prisoners died of diseases like typhus

What was built as a upgrade to prisons and when and where

1556 house of correction bridewell prison

What was the upgraded version of prisons used for

Punish poor people who had broken to law and house homeless or orphaned children

What did the people in the upgraded prisons do and why

Made to do hard labour like breaking up rocks to pay for their keep and to encourage habits of hard work

Initial death penalty ; how many crimes were punishable by death and when

50 crimes in 1688

What 2 minor crimes were punishable by death

Poaching rabbits poaching fish to eat

What was the bloody code used for

A strong dettersnt that was used to reduce crime rate

2 reasons why the bloody code was flawed and ineffective

Crimes committed out of desperation instead of greed

Penalties were so severe so executions were not always carried out as criminals could be pardoned if they were able to -rove their previous good character thus making the message of the bloody code unclear

What was the plead for belly

Women could make a plea of belly to wait to be executed later when the baby was born the bellly was examined by a doctor and if he saw the baby move then the punishment was delayed,however the woman was often pardoned after the birth of the baby

When was transportation introduced and during who’s reign

During the reign of James I in 1603

Where were people often transported to in America

New England colonies in North America

What would those transported be doing in America

Work for a fixed period doing manual labour like clearing trees or doing farm work

How long were people typically transported for

4-15 depending on the seriousness of the crime

Why did people not return from the colonies they were sent to for transportation

After being freed they would have no money to -say for a return journey

Why was transportation favoured by the authorities

It was seen as an effective detterant as people feared they may no longer see their family and friends again

There was no effective prison system so this was best as an alternative

This helped populate Englands new colonies in America to provide manpower for these colonies

People taken far from people and place that might have drawn them to a life of crime in the first place and helped them make a new start

How many people were transported up to 1770

Between 50000 to 80000

Why did James I transport vagrant children

the homeless were blamed for spreading the plague and authorities were happy to find solutions that would lead to their permanent removal

what were the transported children called

duty boys

what did transported children face the consenquences of

died as the conditions on the ships and colonies were bad

Why did the Gunpowder Plotters want to overthrow King James I? 5REASONS

• King James I continued anti-Catholic policies despite promises of tolerance.

• Harsh recusancy fines for Catholics who didn’t attend Anglican church.

• Catholics were banned from certain jobs and public offices.

• Robert Catesby (main plotter) wanted to restore a Catholic monarchy.

• Aim: assassinate King James I and replace him with his daughter Princess Elizabeth

Name the main conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot (1605).

• Robert Catesby – leader and mastermind.

• Guy Fawkes – explosives expert; caught in the cellar.

• Thomas Wintour, Jack Wright, Thomas Percy – other key members.

• Total of 13 conspirators involved.

• Plot began to form in May 1604.

What were the Gunpowder Plotters accused of in 1605?

• High treason – attempting to kill the King, Prince, and Parliament.

• Plot intended to blow up House of Lords during State Opening on 5 Nov 1605.

• Fawkes was found with 36 barrels of gunpowder – enough to destroy the building.

• Charged with conspiracy to assassinate the monarch and incite rebellion.

How and when was the Gunpowder Plot discovered?

• An anonymous letter warned Lord Monteagle not to attend Parliament.

• Letter received: 26 October 1605.

• Authorities searched the cellars under Parliament on 4 November 1605.

• Guy Fawkes arrested guarding gunpowder early 5 November.

Why were the plotters executed so brutally in 1606?

• Government wanted to deter future treason (strong message to Catholics).

• Public executions meant to show power of Protestant monarchy.

• Plotters were hung, drawn and quartered – the punishment for treason.

• Executions took place on 30–31 January 1606.

• King James I used the event to increase anti-Catholic laws.

how did the gunpowder plot show the monarch and parliaments influence on society

THANKSGIVING ACT 1605 ORDERED THAT THE EVENTS SHOULD BE COMMEMORATED EACH YEAR

When was the popish recusants act introduced

1606

what was a part of the popish recusants act

catholics forced to take oath of allegience to the english crown and forced to take part in church of england rituals or pay fines

what were the catholics banned from doing/becoming as a result of the gunpowder plot

restricted from voting, becoming mps, banned from becoming officers in the armed forces

what was a familiar

the devil in the shape of an animal which helped the witch do her evil work

what were witches believed to have with the devil

a pact

what were 4 reasons for the rise of suspiscion of witches

16th century economic problems - fall in wages and rising unemployment - led to the death of lifestock and poor yields of crop which was blamed on witches or bad spirits rather than the bad weather

rising fear of vagabonds made the rich fear then poor and blame them for witchcraft

HenryVIII made witchcraft a crim agianst the king and state and not just a religious crime

1642 civil war led to divisions of poltical ideas which led to people blaming on another for supersticioun

when was Henry VIII’s witchcraft act

1542 Witchcraft became capitalised

what was the witchcraft act after Henry VIII and who and when

Eliabeth I 1563 Act against conjurations enchantments and witches which punished minor witchcraft using stocks and pillory but only punished by death if it was used to cause death to another

when did james I publish demonolgie IN ENGLAND

1603

what did demonologie include

called witches the detestable slaves of the devil

set out james reasons for believing in witches

included instructions on how to run witch trials

Witchcraft was not only a crime against the king, but also against God

witches tried to drown him and his wife during a sea voyage

When and where did Matthew Hopkins work as a witch-hunter?

• Worked between 1645–1647, during the English Civil War.

• Known as the “Witchfinder General”.

• Operated mostly in East Anglia – particularly Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk.

• Responsible for the trial of around 300 people, with 100+ executed.

How did Matthew Hopkins find and interrogate suspected witches?

• He encouraged accusations, often through fear and hysteria.

• Used leading questions and false evidence (e.g., “witch’s mark” or “familiar spirits”).

• Common methods included:

  • Sleep deprivation

  • "Swimming test" – accused were bound and thrown into water (if they floated, they were guilty).

  • Pricking – looking for insensitive spots on the body.

• He charged fees for investigations – motivation to find more suspects

What happened to those accused by Hopkins?

• Most were hanged, not burned (burning was more common in Europe).

• Trials were often unfair – spectral evidence accepted (dreams or visions).

• Suspects were held in poor conditions; many died before trial.

• Around 112 people executed under Hopkins’ accusations in just two years.

What does the witch craze show about attitudes to women in the 1600s?

• Around 80–90% of accused were women, especially poor, elderly, widowed, or midwives.

• Women who didn’t fit the “ideal” were seen as suspicious.

• Deep-rooted misogyny and religious fears (e.g., Puritan beliefs about the Devil’s influence).

• Hopkins and society linked female independence to witchcraft and evil.

when was the enlightment ideas more common

late 17th century

what was the enlightenment

royal society set up in 1660 in london bringing together scientists from a range of fields to offer a more scientific and objective approach in all areas of life - turning around older theories of knowledhe based on faith

what was the effect of the enlightenment on witchcraft

witchcraft began to be seen as a more supersticious idea rather than a crime

why was the enlightenment not fully effective and when was the last recorded execution for withcraft

isolated rural communities continued to believe in witchvtagy - the last recorded execution was in 1716 in england