A. Branding of Vagabonds and Thieves in Tudor England
- Laws like the Vagabonds Act of 1530 mandated branding on the thumb for repeat offenders.
- Branding was part of a broader set of harsh penalties aimed at poor and itinerant populations.
B. Branding in the American South
- Runaway slaves were branded with letters such as "R" for runaway or "S" for slave.
- Branding was used to maintain strict social hierarchies and suppress rebellion.
C. Branding of Prisoners and Military Deserters
- Deserters from armies were branded to prevent further desertion.
- Criminals were marked in prisons to signify their crimes.
Decline and Abolition of Branding as Punishment
A. Enlightenment and Penal Reform
Philosophers and reformers criticized branding as barbaric and inhumane.
- Figures like Cesare Beccaria argued for proportional, humane punishments.
- The rise of imprisonment as a preferred form of punishment.
B. Legal Abolition
- Britain officially abolished branding as a punishment in the 19th century.
- Other countries followed suit, reflecting evolving views on human rights. shutdown123