Crime, law and order in the 1600s and 1700s were very different from what we know today. There was no police force, and people had to rely on themselves to protect their property and families. The punishment for crimes was very harsh, and the laws were known as the Bloody Code. This meant that even small crimes like stealing a loaf of bread could result in the death penalty. The punishments were often public, and people would gather to watch the criminals being punished. This was meant to deter others from committing crimes.

The Bloody Code was introduced in the 1600s and continued until the 1800s. It was a set of laws that made many crimes punishable by death. The idea was that if the punishment was severe enough, people would be deterred from committing crimes. However, this did not work, and crime continued to be a problem. The punishments were often brutal, and people were hanged, burned, or even boiled alive.

Without a police force, people had to rely on themselves to protect their property and families. They would form groups to patrol their neighborhoods and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. If a crime was committed, the victim would have to catch the criminal themselves or hire someone to do it for them. This often led to vigilante justice, where people would take the law into their own hands.

In conclusion, crime, law and order in the 1600s and 1700s were very different from what we know today. The Bloody Code made many crimes punishable by death, and without a police force, people had to rely on themselves to protect their property and families. The punishments were often brutal, and people would gather to watch the criminals being punished.

Year 7 Daily Life and Beliefs

Crime and Punishment