GCSE History (Edexcel): Crime, Punishment & Whitechapel
This course provides a comprehensive and detailed study of the Pearsons Edexcel GCSE History topic: 'Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present' and 'Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city'. It is structured into five decks, precisely following the official specification. By completing this course, you will master the key events, individuals, and concepts across a millennium of British history, developing a deep understanding of change, continuity, and the factors that shaped crime and punishment. The final deck provides a focused study of Whitechapel, honing your source analysis skills. This course is designed to equip you with the detailed factual knowledge and analytical understanding necessary to achieve a very high grade in your GCSE History Paper 1 exam. To maximise your success, you should supplement this course with practice on past exam questions.
Decks in this Course
5 items
c1000–c1500: Crime and punishment in medieval England
This deck covers the nature of crime and punishment in medieval England. It explores crimes against the person, property, and authority, including poaching as a 'social' crime. You will learn how the Norman Conquest and William I’s Forest Laws changed crime definitions. The deck details law enforcement methods like tithings, the hue and cry, and the parish constable, and punishments such as fines, corporal punishment, and capital punishment, including the end of the Saxon Wergild. It concludes with a case study on the Church's influence, focusing on Sanctuary, Benefit of Clergy, and the use and ending of trial by ordeal.
c1500–c1700: Crime and punishment in early modern England
This deck examines crime and punishment in the turbulent early modern period. It covers continuity and change in crimes like heresy and treason, and the emergence of new crimes such as vagabondage and witchcraft. You will learn about the role of town watchmen in law enforcement and the evolution of punishment, including the continued use of corporal and capital punishment, the introduction of transportation, and the beginning of the Bloody Code. The deck features case studies on the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and the witch-hunts led by Matthew Hopkins from 1645–47.
c1700–c1900: Crime and punishment in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain
This deck explores the significant changes in crime and punishment during the Industrial Revolution. It covers crimes like highway robbery, poaching, and smuggling, and changing attitudes exemplified by the end of witchcraft prosecutions and the case of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. You will learn about developments in law enforcement, including the work of the Fielding brothers and the creation of professional police forces and the CID. The deck also examines changing views on punishment, the end of the Bloody Code, transportation, and public execution, and the influence of prison reformers John Howard and Elizabeth Fry. Case studies focus on Pentonville prison's separate system and the pivotal role of Robert Peel.
c1900–present: Crime and punishment in modern Britain
This deck covers crime and punishment from the 20th century to the present day. It examines continuity in crime alongside new offences related to cars, race, and drugs. You will learn about modern law enforcement, including Neighbourhood Watch, police specialisation, and the use of science and technology. The deck details major shifts in punishment, such as the abolition of the death penalty, the development of open prisons, specialised treatment for young offenders, and non-custodial sentences. Case studies explore the treatment of Conscientious Objectors in both World Wars and the Derek Bentley case and its impact on capital punishment.
Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city
This deck provides an in-depth study of the historic environment of Whitechapel. It covers the local context, policing challenges, and the Jack the Ripper case, as well as the skills of using historical sources for an enquiry into this topic.
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