Crime And Punishment In Colonial America

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The law, crime, and punishment was very harsh throughout Colonial America, yet held the colonies together. The law, crime, and punishment was strict, but it was efficient and important throughout the years. Since the punishment was so harsh, people would know not to disobey the laws or commit crimes. The law in Colonial America was not as organized before the Declaration of Independence was made in 1776. Before the Declaration of Independence, there was the English common law which came from the English. Most of the laws were basic. For example, one has to go to church, no theft, no abuse, etc. Laws varied in each colony. Not only were there different laws in each, there were more strict about certain laws depending on the colony. …show more content…
Almost all of the crimes ended in some form of death. Even smaller crimes like forgery or plagiarism ended in death. Some of these punishments were burning, drowning, whipping, and branding. Public hangings and executions were not as common as those. Men committed crimes much more than women, but when women committed crimes they were usually drowned in a pond while being tied to a estick. Since slavery in the colonies was so grating, slaves were given the worst punishments for trying to escape or disobeying. In Colonial America jails were only used as holding cells. For instance, after a criminal was caught they would be sent to the jail to stay there while the court trial was going on. After the trial, the criminal was either punished or sent free. Punishment was extremely strict and harsh through the colonial era, but is arguably better than having it the other way around. The laws, crime system, and punishments throughout Colonial American era was a significant centerpiece for the colonies. The law system was significant, the crime was dealt with very well, and the punishments were very grating yet worked. All of these are connected in a way that helped keep the colonies settled; the law was made so the crime was not often, and the punishments would make the criminals not want to disobey the laws. Overall, the law, crime, and punishment was efficient and prime throughout the
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