Corporal Punishment - GCSE History Definition

In GCSE History, corporal punishment means using physical pain to punish someone for breaking the law. This could include things like whipping, caning, or being hit, and was meant to teach the person a lesson and stop others from doing the same. In the past, especially before modern prisons, corporal punishment was a common form of justice in many societies. For example, in early modern England, people could be publicly whipped for crimes like theft or begging. Corporal punishment was also used in schools, especially during the Victorian period, where children were often caned for bad behaviour. Over time, attitudes began to change, and people started to see this kind of punishment as too harsh — especially for children. Today, corporal punishment is banned in UK schools, and most legal systems now use prisons, fines, or community service instead.