The Impact of Industrial Society on Crime and Punishment

What was the industrial period in Britain?

The industrial period roughly refers to the 18th and 19th centuries. Britain experienced more social and economic change during this period than at any previous time. This had an effect on crime, punishment and policing.

How did urbanisation affect industrial Britain?

The location of the population changed in 3 dramatic ways during the industrial age:

• ❖ In 1750 there were 9.5 million people, mostly living in villages.
• ❖ By 1900 the population had risen to 41.5 million and people mainly lived in towns and cities.
• ❖ Bigger cities meant more crime, as they were more anonymous and there were more opportunities for crime.

How did population growth affect crime in industrial Britain?

The growth of the population affected crime rates in the industrial age in 2 key ways:

• ❖ The population of England increased by more than 100% in the 19th century.
• ❖ This meant crime increased as there were more potential criminals and more potential victims.

What were working practices like in industrial Britain?

Changes to working practices also led to 3 key changes in patterns of crime:

• ❖ During the 18th century, most people made a living from farm work.
• ❖ By 1900, most found employment in workshops or factories in towns and cities.
• ❖ People were more likely to work near stores of valuable goods, which made theft easier. There were also more opportunities to commit white-collar crimes, such as fraud.

Was there democracy in industrial Britain?

Voting and the electorate changed dramatically during the industrial period in 4 main ways:

• ❖ By the mid-18th century, only 1 in every 8 men could vote.
• ❖ By 1885, 2 in 3 men had this right.
• ❖ Governments therefore began to make improvements to housing and health in order to win votes from ordinary people.
• ❖ This also had an impact on the laws governments made regarding crime and punishment.

What effect did poor harvests have on industrial Britain?

Poor harvests had less impact on people, as food could be imported from other countries more easily.

How did people travel in industrial Britain?

Transport experienced huge changes during the 18th and 19th centuries, which led to an increase in crime.

• ❖ The growth of the railways had a huge impact on society and crime.
• ❖ By the 1840s, railways had become a major form of travel.
• ❖ These were much faster than travelling by road and gradually became cheaper, so ordinary people could afford to use them.
• ❖ Crime on transport became a problem. Some railway companies hired their own police forces to protect passengers.

How wealthy was industrial Britain?

Growing wealth led to more social change in 3 key ways:

• ❖ Two centuries of trade and industrial growth made Britain a wealthy country in this period.
• ❖ During the 19th century, the government collected higher taxes.
• ❖ They then used these to pay for reforms that would improve people's lives.

What was education like in industrial Britain?

4 key changes in education in the industrial period led to social change:

• ❖ In 1750, only a minority of children went to school.
• ❖ By 1880, the law said all children up to the age of 13 had to attend school.
• ❖ By 1900, 95% of the population could read or write, compared with only 70% in 1850.
• ❖ This meant people could access more news and media, which had an effect on their attitudes to crime.

Were there protests in industrial Britain?

Revolutions around the world affected the British government's attitude to crime in 4 main ways:

• ❖ The American Revolution of 1775 caused the government some anxiety.
• ❖ The French Revolution at the end of the 18th century also rang warning bells for British MPs.
• ❖ They saw every protest or demonstration as the first sign of 'the British Revolution', and in the years after 1815 there was much protest.
• ❖ This affected the government's attitude to protest and crime.

What role did the government have in industrial Britain?

Over the industrial period, people's view of the role of the government changed in 3 key ways:

• ❖ For centuries, British people had resisted any government involvement in local affairs as an interference which threatened their freedom.
• ❖ However, by the 19th century, people began to accept the government should have some control over certain things.
• ❖ This meant they were more likely to accept a greater level of government control when it came to law and order.

What was the Enlightenment in industrial Britain?

During the industrial period, ideas about people's behaviour were changing in 2 key ways:

• ❖ During the 1700s there was a period known as the Enlightenment, when philosophers and thinkers argued about human nature.
• ❖ Some argued that improving people's education, along with their living and working conditions, might encourage better behaviour and less crime.

How did science affect crime in industrial Britain?

Changing ideas about science affected people's ideas about human behaviour in 2 key ways:

• ❖ In the mid-1800s, Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution.
• ❖ This led some to believe that criminals came almost entirely from a class that was somehow less evolved than other people.