1). According to the 1646 Massachusetts law, on what grounds could a child be pu
ID: 395332 • Letter: 1
Question
1). According to the 1646 Massachusetts law, on what grounds could a child be put to death? Are there any exceptions? If so, what are they? 2). What portion(s) of the 1646 Massachusetts law did John Porter Jr. specifically violate? Essentially, what are Porter, Jr.'s alleged crimes? According to this document, how was Porter, Jr. punished? Why was he not put to death? 3). In regards to seventeenth-century Puritan New England, how often do you think disobedient/disrespectful children avoided capital punishment? Why?Explanation / Answer
Ans 1:
The 1646 Massachusetts law or better known as Stubborn Child Law directed for capital punishment to children who were disobedient to their parents. The law stated that if a son, 16 or more, disobey their parents then they can take him to the court and testify against him and he will be awarded the capital punishment. The exception to the case was that it didn't apply to the female children.
Ans 2:
John Porter Jr. violated the law by continuously cursing his parents after coming home from the colony. He was delinquent and rebellious according to his parents and even after providing love and support from his parents he was unsupportive and constantly abused them. John Porter Jr. was punished to be standing on a ladder with a noose around his neck. He was also punished to be whipped and committed to the house of corrections. He was also fined to pay two hundred pounds. He was not put to death as his mother didn't join his father in testifying against him because of her love towards her son.
Ans 3:
I think the disobedient/disrespectful children often avoided capital punishment. The parents who testified against their children in the court wanted them to be disciplined so that they follow their parents and didn't always wanted them dead. The parents pushed for corporal punishment by inflicting physical pain like whipping, mutilating etc. Most of the times the parents of delinquent children asked the courts to discipline their children and nothing more.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.