Edexcel GCSE HISTORY PAPER 1 (1HI0 10-13) - 15th MAY [Exam Chat]

1.

Name two types of crime in Whitechapel (or whatever it was) I said about there being theft, and very high theft rates around 75% of all crime in Whitechapel was theft related
I then also said about assault and violence being high due to alcoholism in pubs, the nature of Whitechapel with alleyways, and difficulties policing

2.

How useful are Sources A and B for an enquiry into the conditions of lodging houses in Whitechapel?
I said Source A was very useful as it provided an insight into how overcrowded the area was, and also on how disease spread. It was also useful because it was from the owner of a Lodging House, and although there was a chance that he might have exaggerated and been horrified because of his wealth, Source A is overall very accurate.
For Source B I said that it was also very useful as it showed the overcrowded nature again, and provided an insight into the atmosphere of Whitechapel lodging houses, however because it was published in a magazine it may have been prone to exaggeration and sensationalism. Overall I said it was quite useful though.

3.

How could you follow up Source A? I couldn’t decide here and I don’t think I did it right, but I chose the sentence “I was woken up by appaling fights a couple times” and asked “How common was assault and violence in the Whitechapel lodging houses?” and said “You could find this out by police records from the time and Whitechapel area as they would detail the type and frequency of crimes (assault) commited and where.”

4.

Give one difference between the treatment of the crime of witchcraft in the period c1500-1700 and the period c1700-1900. This one was my worst one, and I said that public attitudes were much more harsh in the first period, due to a fear of witches spread by pamphlets, James I’s book (daemanologie or however you spell it) and the political strife in the English Civil War. In contrast I said that attitudes were much less severe and punishments were much less harsh in the second period because attitudes had changed. I think I waffled too much though.

5.

Explain why the use of transportation as a punishment changed in the period c1603-1868. For my first paragraph I spoke about the desire to consolidate control over the North American colonies and extract natural resources and wealth from there, and compete with our rivals France and Spain, and so there was an increased rate of transportation in the 17th century. To strengthen the colonies, criminals were meant to do hard labour there, and so the use increased. I then for my second paragraph said that following the American Revolution of 1776, there was an increased to desire to strengthen the British Empire and consolidate a colony in Australia. I also spoke about the gold rush in Australia meaning we sent more people there to extract the gold, and I said that we were also in competition with the Dutch Empire who had control over Indonesida, and lay claim to Australia also. Therefore the use of transportation as a punishment increased for the same kind of reasons as North America but also the gold. Finally for my last paragraph, I said that transportation declined throughout the 19th century as people believed the punishment was not harsh enough, and that there was no evidence that transportation worked as a deterrent and crime rates were not falling. I said that public attitudes towards transportation soured, as well as in Australia where many British settlers and colonists were somewhat opposed to having their island flooded with criminals, as by this point over 80,000 people had been transported. One of my friends also mentioned the Tolpuddle Martyrs which is a good point that I am kicking myself for forgetting.

6.

“The most important factor that affected crime and punishment in the period c1000-1500 was the attitudes of society. How do you agree?” I chose that one, and for my first paragraph said I agreed because people approved of the use of capital and corporal punishment, such as whipping, the pillory, severing of limbs etc, meaning it lasted longer. I also said it served as a deterrent in that time, and so public punishment was a reason to agree. For my second paragraph I spoke about the Forest Laws and their creation following the Norman Conquest of 1066. I said that they were seen as a social crime, and were not obeyed, proving that public attitudes had a profound impact on crime and punishment. I mentioned statistics like “30% of English forests were under Royal Protected land” and how William I’s “Foresters” were not respected due to the public attitudes towards the law. For my last paragraph, I said that I disagreed with the statement because of the immense role played by the Church, with systems such as Sanctuary protecting criminals for 40 days, along with Benefit of the Clergy, Church Courts and Trial By Ordeal (until it was abolished in 1215 by Pope Innocent III which I’m chuffed with myself for remembering). Overall, I said I somewhat agreed with the viewpoint but that the role of the Church could not be understated.