EDEXCEL GCSE HISTORY · PAPER 1 · CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Exam Practice - The Death Penalty
The Abolition of the Death Penalty · Chapter 4: Crime, punishment and law enforcement in recent times, c1900-present · Lesson 4 of 4 · 32 marks · 35 minutes
Name Date
Answer all questions. Use specific names, dates and examples in every answer.
Question 1 EXPLAIN ONE WAY [4 marks]
Explain one way in which the case of Timothy Evans was different from the case of Derek Bentley.
Question 2 EXPLAIN WHY [12 marks]
Explain why the death penalty was abolished in 1965. You may use the following in your answer: Timothy Evans; Ruth Ellis. You must also use information of your own.
Question 3 HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE? [16 marks]
"The case of Derek Bentley was the main reason the death penalty was abolished in 1965." How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: Derek Bentley; changing attitudes. You must also use information of your own. (16 marks, plus 4 for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology)
Answers
Check your answer only once you have written one.
Question 1 [4 marks]
Timothy Evans was hanged in 1950 for the murder of his daughter, but he was later shown to be innocent when his landlord, John Christie, was found to be a serial killer in 1953; Evans was pardoned in 1966. Derek Bentley was hanged in 1953 for a murder that was actually committed by his friend Christopher Craig, who fired the shot but was too young to hang. So the difference is that Evans was innocent of any killing, while Bentley was involved in the crime but did not fire the fatal shot.
▸ A valid difference identified 1-2 marks
▸ Supported with specific knowledge of both cases 3-4 marks
Question 2 [12 marks]
One reason was the evidence that innocent people could be hanged. Timothy Evans was hanged in 1950 for the murder of his daughter, but in 1953 his landlord John Christie was revealed to be a serial killer who had murdered women in the same house. Evans was pardoned in 1966. This showed that the justice system could make mistakes, and an execution could never be undone. A second reason was growing public sympathy for those facing execution. Ruth Ellis shot her abusive lover in 1955 and became the last woman hanged in Britain, despite a petition and widespread sympathy for her situation. Derek Bentley, aged 19 and with learning difficulties, was hanged in 1953 for a murder his friend committed, causing public outrage. These cases made many people feel the death penalty was unjust. A third reason, beyond the stimulus, was changing attitudes and the work of campaigners. By the 1960s society was more concerned with human rights and rehabilitation, and there was little evidence that hanging deterred murderers. MPs such as Sydney Silverman campaigned for years, and in 1965 Parliament passed the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act, suspending hanging for murder.
▸ 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
Question 3 [16 marks]
On the one hand, the Bentley case was very important. Derek Bentley, aged 19 with learning difficulties, was hanged in 1953 for a murder that his 16-year-old friend Christopher Craig committed - Craig fired the shot but was too young to hang. The case caused public outrage, with crowds protesting outside Wandsworth Prison, and it became a powerful symbol of the injustice of the death penalty. On the other hand, other factors were at least as important. The Timothy Evans case was arguably more significant because it proved that a completely innocent man had been hanged: Evans was executed in 1950, and in 1953 John Christie was revealed as a serial killer. Ruth Ellis's execution in 1955 also caused great public sympathy. More broadly, changing attitudes towards human rights and rehabilitation, doubts about whether hanging deterred murder, and the long campaign of MPs such as Sydney Silverman all led to abolition. Overall, the Bentley case was an important trigger that turned public opinion, but it was not the main reason on its own. The Evans case gave the strongest argument - that innocent people could be executed - and changing attitudes explain why Parliament finally acted in 1965.
▸ 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
▸ 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 capital punishment and miscarriage of justice