Crime and Punishment and Class Differences

1. Crime and Punishment and Class Differences By: Sammi Matera Emily Hoerter Nicole Congdon Cannon Van Handel

2. Crime and Punishment Each colonial assembly passed its own laws defining crimes and punishment Crimes = Punishment Serious crimes=death (murder, treason, etc.) Parents equaled “God” back then If you believed in the real God then you were sentenced to death Theft, forgery, robbery = Jailed, whipped, or branded with irons Broken Sabbath, drunkenness = fines, jail terms, mortify, or locked in stocks

3. Witchcraft 1691 brought witchcraft fears Several strange acting girls were sent to questioning and each girl would blame other girls to avoid execution. That year, 20 young women accused of witchcraft were executed. Later it turned out that the accusation was false.

4. The Blue Laws The blue laws were written by the Puritans. Why were the blue laws blue? The paper had blue bindings.

5. Class Differences There are 4 different classes First Class people were rich business men that had risen to money fame. Middle class was farmers, merchants and market place sellers. They were lucky to make money and put food on the table. They had to have some sort of property to vote. Lower class was farmhands and workers, they COULD NOT vote, some of them rose up to the middle class while some stayed as labor. The lowest class were servants and slaves.

6. Class Ladder Moving up in the ladder was very difficult. Most colonist started at the bottom of the ladder. You could move up by being a successful planter, lawyer, or merchant. Women could also move up by marrying a upperclassman.

7. Diagram of the Class Differences At the top: First class: the rich people! In the middle: Middle class: the farmers and merchants. Next is Lower Class: farmhands and people who depended on the Middle Class. Finally at the bottom: Slaves and Servants who weren’t treated fair.

8. Clothing: A Big Deal Clothing Makes The Man! Sundays were for sober clothing Wore wigs, silver, gold, lace and other types of upper class clothing wear. Money made you important.

9. Quiz Time!!!! List any THREE common crimes that would give you punishment. How many women were killed from being accused as witches? What happened if you broke the Sabbath? Why are the blue laws blue? How many different classes were there? Who created the blue laws? What colors did the middle class wear on Sundays? How would a woman of a lower class move up? What made you important? When did people develop a fear of witchcraft?

10. Answers 1. Theft, forgery, and robbery etc. 2. 20 women 3. fined, go to jail or locked in stocks 4. The blue laws had a blue binding 5. 4 different classes 6. The Puritans 7. sober, dark colors. 8. by marrying a higher class man 9. Money! 10. 1691