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Crime and Punishment in the Industrial Period - Teacher Slides.pptx
The lesson slides with the teacher's notes on each slide, and every question and mark scheme built in. Built from the lesson script on 23 September 2026.
EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Crime and Punishment in the Industrial Period
c1700-c1900
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
What Do You Already Think?
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
Answer before the lesson, then check your ideas at the end.
1
Why might crime rise when people move to towns?
2
Would making more crimes punishable by death stop crime?
3
What could be done with criminals instead of hanging them?
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
What Do You Already Think? - Answers
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
1
Why might crime rise when people move to towns?
Towns were crowded and anonymous - it was easier to steal and harder to be recognised.
2
Would making more crimes punishable by death stop crime?
Not necessarily - juries often refused to convict, and many people were pardoned.
3
What could be done with criminals instead of hanging them?
Transport them abroad, or send them to prison.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Learning Objectives
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
1
Explain how industrialisation and the growth of towns changed crime.
2
Describe the Bloody Code and explain why it was introduced.
3
Explain why the Bloody Code ended, and describe the use of transportation.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Setting the Scene
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
Between 1700 and 1900 Britain became the world's first industrial nation. Millions of people moved from villages to fast-growing towns to work in factories and mills. Towns were crowded, poor and anonymous, and the rich had more property than ever to protect. Parliament, made up of landowners, passed harsh laws to protect that property.
1723
The Black Act makes over 50 offences, including poaching in disguise, punishable by death.
1776
Transportation to America ends when the colonies rebel.
1787
The First Fleet sets sail to transport convicts to Australia.
1820s
Robert Peel, as Home Secretary, begins removing crimes from the Bloody Code.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Setting the Scene (cont.)
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
1861
Only four crimes remain punishable by death.
1868
Public executions end; the last convict ship sails to Australia.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Why Crime Changed in Industrial Britain
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
The industrial revolution created new opportunities for crime.
Growing towns
Towns such as Manchester grew very fast, packing people into crowded slums.
Anonymity
In a town nobody knew you, so it was easier to steal and escape.
Poverty
Low wages, unemployment and high food prices pushed people to steal to survive.
More to steal
Shops, warehouses and factories held more goods than ever before.
Drink
Cheap gin and beer were blamed for violence and disorder.
Fear
Newspapers reported crime widely, making people feel it was rising fast.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
The Bloody Code
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
The name historians give to the huge number of crimes punishable by death.
The numbers
The number of capital crimes rose from around 50 at the start of the 1700s to over 200 by 1815.
Minor crimes
Many were property crimes, such as stealing goods worth more than five shillings, or cutting down trees in an avenue.
Why
Parliament was made up of wealthy landowners who wanted to protect their property, and they believed the threat of hanging would deter crime.
Deterrence
Executions were public, so that the crowd would see what happened to criminals.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Did the Bloody Code Work?
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
In practice, far fewer people were hanged than the law allowed.
Juries
Juries often refused to convict for minor thefts, or valued stolen goods below the amount that carried the death penalty.
Pardons
Many convicted criminals were pardoned, and their sentences were changed to transportation.
Crowds
Public executions became rowdy events, and some people sympathised with the condemned.
Crime continued
Crime did not fall, which suggested the harsh laws were not deterring anyone.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Transportation
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
A way of removing criminals without executing them.
Destination
When
What happened
American colonies
Until 1776
Convicts worked on plantations; ended when the colonies won independence
Australia
1787-1868
Around 160,000 convicts were sent on a journey that took eight months
Work
On arrival
Convicts worked for settlers or on public projects; good behaviour could earn a ticket of leave
The end
1868
Transportation ended as it was seen as too expensive and not a deterrent
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Why the Bloody Code Ended
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
By the 1860s the death penalty was used almost only for murder.
Peel's reforms
In the 1820s Home Secretary Robert Peel removed the death penalty from over 100 crimes.
New ideas
Reformers argued that punishments should fit the crime and try to reform criminals.
Alternatives
Transportation and new prisons offered other ways to punish.
1861
Only four crimes remained capital: murder, treason, piracy with violence and arson in royal dockyards. Public executions ended in 1868.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Key Terms
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
Industrialisation
The growth of factories and industry, and the move of people into towns.
Bloody Code
The name for the large number of crimes punishable by death in the 1700s and early 1800s.
Capital crime
A crime punishable by death.
Transportation
Sending convicts to work in a colony, such as Australia.
Pardon
Being let off a sentence, often changed to a lesser punishment.
Deterrence
Punishing people to put others off committing crime.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Summary & Exam Focus
Industrialisation and growing towns created new opportunities for crime.
The Bloody Code made over 200 crimes punishable by death by 1815.
Juries and pardons meant far fewer people were hanged than the law allowed.
Peel's reforms ended the Bloody Code; public executions ended in 1868.
EXAM FOCUS
Explain why the Bloody Code came to an end in the nineteenth century. (12 marks)
Explain several reasons - it did not work, new ideas, alternatives such as prison - and support each with a specific example.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Exam Practice - The Industrial Period
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
Answer all questions. Use specific names, dates and examples in every answer. · 35 minutes
Question 1 · 4 marks · Explain one way
Explain one way in which punishment in the period c1700-c1800 was different from punishment in the period c1800-c1900.
Question 2 · 12 marks · Explain why
Explain why the Bloody Code came to an end in the nineteenth century. You may use the following in your answer: juries; Robert Peel. You…
Question 3 · 16 marks · How far do you agree?
"The growth of towns was the main reason for changes in crime in the period c1700-c1900." How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You…
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 1 · 4 marks · Explain one way
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
“
Explain one way in which punishment in the period c1700-c1800 was different from punishment in the period c1800-c1900.
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: Explain one way. Worth 4 marks, so plan before writing.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 1 · mark scheme
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
4 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
A valid difference identified
1-2 marks
Supported with specific knowledge of both periods
3-4 marks
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 2 · 12 marks · Explain why
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
“
Explain why the Bloody Code came to an end in the nineteenth century. You may use the following in your answer: juries; Robert Peel. You must also use information of your own.
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: Explain why. Worth 12 marks, so plan before writing.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 2 · mark scheme
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
12 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Level 1 (1-3)
A simple or general answer
Level 2 (4-6)
Some explanation of one or more reasons, with some knowledge
Level 3 (7-9)
A developed explanation linked to the question, with accurate knowledge
Level 4 (10-12)
An analytical explanation of several reasons, with knowledge that goes beyond the stimulus points
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 3 · 16 marks · How far do you agree?
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
“
"The growth of towns was the main reason for changes in crime in the period c1700-c1900." How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: industrialisation; smuggling. You must also use information of your own. (16 marks, plus 4 for spelling, punctuation…
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: How far do you agree?. Worth 16 marks, so plan before writing.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 3 · mark scheme
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
16 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Level 1 (1-4)
A simple or generalised answer
Level 2 (5-8)
Some analysis, with a judgement that is asserted
Level 3 (9-12)
Analysis of both sides with accurate knowledge and a supported judgement
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 3 · mark scheme (cont.)
Chapter 3: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1700-c1900, c1700-c1900
Lesson 1 of 4
Level 4 (13-16)
Sustained analysis, knowledge beyond the stimulus, and a clear, justified judgement
SPaG (4)
Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar, with specialist terms such as industrialisation and Bloody Code
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