History GCSE: The Bloody Code

The Waltham Black Act in 1723 established the system known as the Bloody Code which imposed the death penalty for over two hundred, often petty, offences.

Its aim was deterrence.

Those in court faced with this system were expected to defend themselves with only the assistance of the judge.

Many juries practised ‘pious perjury’, often finding people not guilty or reducing the amount stolen to avoid the crime being a capital offence.

An example of this is given with the case of Mary Behn at the Old Bailey.

This short film is from the BBC series, The Strange Case of the Law.

Teacher Notes

Students could identify key words while watching this short film.

They could debate why and when ‘pious perjury’ might be justified.

Curriculum Notes

This short film will be relevant for teaching GCSE history and social studies. This topic appears in OCR, AQA, Edexcel, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland.

More from The Strange Case of the Law:

A look at the use of habeus corpus to prevent the transportation of a slave out of the country in 1771, which ended slavery in England.

Habeas Corpus and Slavery

A look at Henry II’s attempts to deal with the problem of church courts and the consequences of the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket.

Henry II, Thomas Becket and the Church Courts

Looking at habeas corpus in practice and its use by John Lilburne.

John Lilburne and Habeas Corpus

Exploring Anglo-Saxon compensation for injuries from the Rochester Book, the first English law code 600AD.

Saxon Law - Compensation

Exploring the organisation of Anglo-Saxon society into hundreds and how courts enforced the law through the use of oaths.

Saxon Law - Courts

Exploring physical evidence of how justice worked in Anglo-Saxon England from the execution cemetery at Harestock.

Saxon Law - Punishments

A look at the origins of the Star Chamber under Henry VII and its abuse by Charles I. Also, the use of the rack to gain confessions.

Star Chamber and the Rack

A look at the breaking of the Conventicle Act and how the use of habeus corpus led to the independence of the jury.

The Conventicle Act of 1664 and the Independence of the Jury

A look at Robert Peel’s reform of the criminal justice system and the creation of a professional police force.

The Founding of the Police Force

A look at the development of the jury under Henry II and its growing significance with the end of trial by ordeal in 1215.

The Jury

A look at the significance of the Petition of Right and the development of civil liberties, in particular habeus corpus.

The Petition of Right and Habeas Corpus

A look at Anglo-Saxon trial by ordeal of fire or water and Norman trial by combat.

Saxon Law - Trial by Ordeal