Punishments in Eighteenth & Nineteenth-Century Britain (Edexcel GCSE History)

Punishments in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain - Timeline

Punishments in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain - Summary

In the 18th and 19th centuries, crime increased dramatically. In an attempt to deter crime, the government expanded the ‘Bloody Code. This backfired. Fewer people believed that the aims of punishment should be deterrence and retribution. More people thought that punishment should aim for rehabilitation.

After transportation to America ended, the government began sending convicts to Australia. This stopped when it became clear that crime was still increasing. Imprisonment then became a much more common form of punishment. Reformers like John Howard and Elizabeth Fry heavily criticised the poor conditions of prisons. Their work was highly influential, ultimately leading to further reforms under Robert Peel.

Why did People's Opinion About Punishment Change in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain?

• In the 18th and 19th centuries, people’s opinions on punishments were changing

• This was largely due to the failure of the ‘Bloody Code’

• The public felt that the government was not fulfilling the aims of punishment

Why did People’s Attitudes Changed to the Aims of Punishment?

• The public’s changing opinions had an impact on government policy

  • Robert Peel’s reforms abolished the ‘Bloody Code’

  • Public executions ended

  • Use of the death penalty significantly decreased

  • Other forms of punishment increased

    • First, transportation

    • Second, imprisonment

Australia and the End of Transportation as Punishment

Transportation to Australia

• By the late 18th century, transportation was the most frequently used punishment in Britain

• Overall, around 160,000 people were transported to Australia

  • One in six were women

  • Most were thieves (especially reoffenders)

  • A small number were political protesters

The end of transportation

• In the 1840s, transportation began to decline

Increase in Imprisonments and Prison Reform

• Early modern prisons were mainly used to hold criminals awaiting trial

• This changed in the 18th and 19th centuries

• Imprisonment was increasingly used as a form of punishment

  • It became even more common after transportation ended

• Prison conditions remained very poor

• Many thought that criminals in prison deserved these poor conditions

• Others thought that improving prison conditions would increase criminals’ chances of rehabilitation

• Two key reformers who shared this view were

  • John Howard

    • Visited many prisons throughout Britain

    • Published a report detailing problems in prisons and how to address them

    • His work led to the 1774 Gaol Act

• Elizabeth Fry

  • Visited women in Newgate Prison

  • Worked on making female prisoners’ lives better

  • Her work influenced the 1823 Gaols Act