3 - the silent system

History

What was the goal of the Silent System in prisons?

The aim was to make prison life so unpleasant that prisoners would hate it and avoid reoffending.

What restrictions were placed on prisoners under the Silent System?

Prisoners could eat and exercise together, but they had to spend most of their sentence in silence.

What types of work did prisoners do under the Silent System?

Prisoners were given boring and pointless

Describe the tasks

• The crank – turning a handle thousands of times with no purpose.

• Shot drill – moving heavy cannonballs back and forth.

• The treadwheel – walking on a wheel to power machinery or for no reason at all.