GlossariesGCSE GlossariesGCSE History GlossaryHue And Cry

Hue And Cry - GCSE History Definition

Reviewed by: Zoe Wade

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'Hue and Cry' is a term from medieval England that refers to a system used to catch criminals. If someone saw a crime happening, they would shout loudly to alert others and start the chase. Everyone who heard the shouts had to stop what they were doing and help catch the criminal. This was a community responsibility, meaning everyone had to work together to keep their area safe.

The 'Hue and Cry' system shows how law and order relied on the local people rather than professional police forces, which did not exist at the time. This is an important concept when studying how justice worked in the past for GCSE History.

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Zoe Wade

Reviewer: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History Content Creator

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

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