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Jack the Ripper GCSE History Coursework Introduction
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Jack the Ripper was and still is, the most well-known and notorious serial killer in history. His reign of terror in the streets of East London, England was short but brutal. The case was never solved, and the murderer never identified. Over a hundred years later, his crimes have inspired books, films, songs and sadly, copycat killers across the world.
The Ripper's victims were from the poorest and most vulnerable in London's population. Many theories, some sensible, some far-fetched have been put forward by 'Ripperologists', historians, police detectives and students of crime. You are about to enter the world of criminal psychology on the same level as them - starting by looking at the evidence.
Police arrest Ripper suspect, from a newspaper, 1888.
This coursework has three questions. You must show evidence that you have researched the topic, and read the sources provided.
Before you start, you should read about: (a)
The development of the police forces in Britain in the nineteenth
century; (b)
Law and Order in London in the late nineteenth century; (c) Whitechapel in the nineteenth century.
Okay! Let me start!
Take me to the sources and questions.
You can download the task here. It will take a few minutes on a dial-up modem, and you need Acrobat Reader to read it. Download it here.
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Ye Olde Ripper Links
Jack the Ripper Sites
Casebook - the ultimate Ripper site. You MUST spend some time reading this site.
Jack the Ripper - a nice simple site about the murderer.
A Spaniard is writing a book about the royal conspiracy. This is the page about the victims.
The Metropolitan Police page about the Ripper.
Raymond Chitolie's Serial Killer website has a case file about Jack.
The History buff has actual newspaper reports from the time - primary sources.
Only in America....the web site of a Jack the Ripper Musical.
An audio-visual Ripper site from USA.
The Yanks made a comic about the Ripper which inspired the film 'From Hell' - this is a site about it.
Society, Crime and Punishment in Victorian times
The National Archives Learning Curve has a great website tracing the history of crime and punishment.
The history of the Metropolitan Police is presented on an excellent site.
The BBC History site has details about the lives of people in Victorian times. Learn about the poverty of the working people and the effects of disease and crime.
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