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Changing Views Attitudes and the Law - 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
Changing Views: Attitudes and the Law
c1900-present
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
What Do You Already Think?
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
Answer before the lesson, then check your ideas at the end.
1
Can something be a crime one year and legal the next?
2
Name something that was legal in 1950 but is a crime today.
3
Name something that was a crime in 1950 but is legal today.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
What Do You Already Think? - Answers
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
1
Can something be a crime one year and legal the next?
Yes - when society's attitudes change, Parliament changes the law.
2
Name something that was legal in 1950 but is a crime today.
Drink driving, racial discrimination, marital rape, using a hand-held phone while driving.
3
Name something that was a crime in 1950 but is legal today.
Homosexual acts between men, and abortion in most circumstances.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Learning Objectives
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
1
Explain how changing attitudes led to some actions being decriminalised.
2
Explain how changing attitudes led to new crimes being created.
3
Compare the treatment of conscientious objectors in the First and Second World Wars.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Setting the Scene
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
In the twentieth century British society changed faster than ever before. Attitudes to sexuality, race, gender, drugs and driving shifted, and the law followed. Some actions were decriminalised; others became crimes for the first time. What counts as a crime depends on what society and Parliament think is harmful.
1916
Conscription is introduced; conscientious objectors must face tribunals.
1965
The first Race Relations Act makes racial discrimination in public places illegal.
1967
Homosexual acts between men over 21 in private are decriminalised; the Abortion Act passes; the breathalyser is introduced.
1971
The Misuse of Drugs Act sorts drugs into classes A, B and C.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Setting the Scene (cont.)
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
1991
Rape within marriage is recognised as a crime.
1998
The Crime and Disorder Act creates racially aggravated offences.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Decriminalised and Criminalised
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
NO LONGER CRIMES
• Homosexual acts between men in private (from 1967).
• Abortion in many circumstances (Abortion Act 1967).
• Attempting suicide (Suicide Act 1961).
NEW CRIMES
• Racial discrimination and race hate crime (from 1965 and 1998).
• Drink driving (breathalyser from 1967).
• Rape within marriage (from 1991).
• Using a hand-held phone while driving (from 2003).
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Why Attitudes Changed
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
The law changed because society changed.
Tolerance
After the 1960s many people became more tolerant of private behaviour that harmed no one else.
Equality
Campaigns for the rights of women and ethnic minorities led to laws against discrimination and hate crime.
Safety
New technology, especially cars, created new dangers that the law had to address, such as drink driving.
Campaigners
Pressure groups and individual MPs pushed for changes to laws they saw as unjust.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Conscientious Objectors in the First World War
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
Refusing to fight became a legal issue when conscription began.
Conscription
The Military Service Act of 1916 made single men aged 18-41 liable to fight.
COs
Around 16,000 men refused to fight on grounds of conscience; they were called conscientious objectors.
Tribunals
Objectors had to prove their case at tribunals, which were often hostile and rejected most applications.
Treatment
Some accepted non-combat roles; "absolutists" who refused everything were imprisoned, and some faced harsh treatment, including being sent to France where they could be shot for disobeying orders.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Conscientious Objectors at Dartmoor
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
Conscientious objectors at the Princetown Work Centre, Dartmoor, 1917.
Photograph, 1917; public domain copies on Wikimedia Commons or the Peace Pledge Union archive.
From 1917 some conscientious objectors were sent to do hard labour at work centres such as the old prison at Dartmoor, rather than to military prisons.
HOW THEY WERE SEEN
"Conchies"
Many people saw them as cowards and traitors.
White feathers
Men not in uniform were sometimes handed white feathers as a sign of cowardice.
Loss of rights
After the war, many objectors lost the right to vote for five years.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Conscientious Objectors: WW1 and WW2
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
The treatment of objectors changed a great deal between the wars.
First World War
Second World War
Number of COs
Around 16,000
Around 60,000
Tribunals
Often hostile; most applications rejected
More understanding; many exemptions granted
Alternatives
Non-combat roles or work centres
Civilian work such as farming, firefighting or bomb disposal
Prison
Many absolutists imprisoned, some harshly
Far fewer imprisoned
Public attitude
Widely seen as cowards
Still some hostility, but more tolerance
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Key Terms
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
Decriminalise
To make something no longer a crime.
Conscription
Making people join the armed forces by law.
Conscientious objector
Someone who refuses to fight for reasons of conscience.
Tribunal
A special court that decided whether an objector's case was genuine.
Absolutist
A conscientious objector who refused to do anything to help the war effort.
Hate crime
A crime motivated by prejudice, for example against someone's race or religion.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Summary & Exam Focus
Changing attitudes led Parliament to decriminalise some actions and criminalise others.
Homosexuality and abortion were decriminalised in 1967.
Race hate, drink driving and marital rape became crimes.
Conscientious objectors were treated far more tolerantly in WW2 than in WW1.
EXAM FOCUS
Explain one way in which the treatment of conscientious objectors in the First World War was different from their treatment in the Second World War. (4 marks)
Name one clear difference, then support it with specific detail from both wars.
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Exam Practice - Changing Views
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
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 the treatment of conscientious objectors in the First World War was different from their treatment in the Second…
Question 2 · 12 marks · Explain why
Explain why there were changes in the definition of crime in the period c1900-present. You may use the following in your answer: the Sexual…
Question 3 · 16 marks · How far do you agree?
"Changing attitudes in society were the main reason for new definitions of crime in the period c1900-present." How far do you agree?…
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 1 · 4 marks · Explain one way
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
“
Explain one way in which the treatment of conscientious objectors in the First World War was different from their treatment in the Second World War.
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 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
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 wars
3-4 marks
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EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Question 2 · 12 marks · Explain why
Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
“
Explain why there were changes in the definition of crime in the period c1900-present. You may use the following in your answer: the Sexual Offences Act (1967); drink driving. 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 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
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 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
Lesson 1 of 4
“
"Changing attitudes in society were the main reason for new definitions of crime in the period c1900-present." How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: race hate crime; cyber crime. You must also use information of your own. (16 marks, plus 4 for…
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 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
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 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present
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 decriminalise and hate crime
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