This lesson questions how and why attitudes towards crime and punishment changed during the 18th and 19th centuries as Britain underwent significant social, economic and industrial change.

Students investigate the emergence of ‘new’ crimes, including highway robbery, poaching, smuggling, rioting, protesting and Trade Union activity and examine how governments attempted to tackle these challenges through changing methods of punishment and law enforcement.

Throughout the lesson, students analyse the reasons behind the shift from public to private punishments, the development of prisons as a key form of punishment, changing attitudes towards capital punishment and the growing demand for a more organised police force.

Key historical questions are revisited throughout, encouraging students to develop their understanding of cause, consequence and change over time.

In the first part of the lesson, students assess government responses to a range of crimes by plotting and explaining the causes of each offence and evaluating how effective official responses were in reducing crime.

A Diamond Nine activity and supporting video resource encourage discussion and prioritisation of the most significant factors behind changing patterns of crime and punishment.

The second part of the lesson focuses on transportation, the growth of prisons and the expansion of the police force. Students assess the strengths and weaknesses of these developments before completing a Thinking Quilt activity to consolidate their understanding.

An extended writing task, supported by writing prompts and a mark scheme, provides an opportunity to develop examination skills and historical judgement.

The lesson is structured around a central enquiry question which is introduced at the beginning and revisited throughout, allowing students to demonstrate progress and make connections across the wider Crime and Punishment unit.

Included in this lesson:
Fully editable PowerPoint lesson
Enquiry-based learning throughout
Differentiated tasks and activities
Diamond Nine activity
Thinking Quilt plenary
Video links and supporting resources
Extended writing task with prompts
Mark scheme included
Suggested teaching strategies
Suitable as preparation for GCSE History

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