1700-1900: Smuggling | Crime & Punishment | GCSE History Revision

Summary

This video delves into smuggling in Britain between 1700 and 1900. It explains how government-imposed import duties in the 17th century, on goods like tea and cloth, led to an increase in smuggling. By the 18th century, organized smuggler gangs, such as the infamous Hawkhurst Gang, profited from this illegal trade. Despite efforts to crack down, smuggling remained widespread due to public support and unpoliced coastlines. The practice gradually declined when Prime Minister William Pitt reduced import duties, making legal goods more affordable. The video includes links to Quizlet flashcards and practice questions for further learning.

Takeaways

• 🛃 In the 17th century, the British government introduced import duties on various goods, including tea and some cloth, leading to increased smuggling activities.
• 🚢 By the 18th century, more goods were taxed, further fueling the growth of smuggling and the rise of organized smuggler gangs like the Hawkhurst Gang.
• 🏴‍☠️ The Hawkhurst Gang, active from 1735, controlled large parts of the south coast of England and operated on a large scale until their leaders were hanged in the late 1740s.
• 👥 Smuggling was considered a social crime; many people in society did not disapprove of it, as they benefited from cheaper goods.
• 🤝 Local coastal communities often assisted smugglers by unloading boats or hiding goods, and some even saw smugglers as heroes.
• 💼 Members of the upper classes were reluctant to report smugglers, as they too benefited from purchasing smuggled goods at lower prices.
• 🌙 Smuggling was often done at night and along unpoliced coastlines, making it difficult for authorities to catch smugglers.
• 📉 Smuggling began to decline in the 1780s when Prime Minister William Pitt reduced import duties, making the trade less profitable.
• 📉 Further reductions in import duties in the 19th century continued to shrink the price gap between legal and smuggled goods, further reducing smuggling activities.
• 📚 The video offers additional educational resources, such as Quizlet flashcards and practice questions, to help viewers learn more about the topic.

Q & A

What were some of the goods subject to import duties in the 17th and 18th centuries?

Goods such as cloth, tea, and [omitted word] were subject to import duties in the 17th and 18th centuries, which led to an increase in smuggling activity.

Why did smuggling increase during the 18th century?

Smuggling increased because more goods were taxed, and there was greater profit to be made by avoiding import duties. Additionally, many in society did not see smuggling as a serious crime.

Who were the Hawkhurst Gang, and where did they operate?

The Hawkhurst Gang was a well-organized smuggling group that controlled large stretches of England’s south coast. They were based in Hawkhurst, Kent, and operated from 1735 until their leaders were captured in 1748 and 1749.

How did people in local coastal communities help smugglers?

Local coastal communities helped smugglers by unloading boats, hiding smuggled goods, and generally assisting in evading authorities. Many benefited from the cheaper prices of smuggled goods.

Why were the authorities unable to effectively stop smuggling during this period?

The authorities struggled to stop smuggling due to widespread public support for the practice, a lack of effective policing along the coastline, and the fact that many upper-class people benefited from smuggled goods.

What is meant by the term 'social crime' in the context of smuggling?

A 'social crime' refers to an illegal activity that most of society does not disapprove of. In this case, many people saw smuggling as beneficial because it provided cheaper goods, despite its illegality.

How did Prime Minister William Pitt contribute to the decline of smuggling in the 1780s?

William Pitt reduced import duties in the 1780s, which made the price difference between legal and smuggled goods much smaller, reducing the profitability of smuggling.

Why did smuggling become less profitable by the end of the 18th century?

Smuggling became less profitable because import duties were reduced, which decreased the price difference between legally imported and smuggled goods. This reduced the incentive for smuggling.

What happened to the leaders of the Hawkhurst Gang?

The leaders of the Hawkhurst Gang, Arthur Gray and Thomas Kingsmill, were caught and hanged in 1748 and 1749, which led to the end of the gang’s operations.

Why were members of the upper class reluctant to report smugglers?

Members of the upper class were reluctant to report smugglers because they benefited from buying cheaper, smuggled goods and often helped to conceal smuggling activities.