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Smuggling - GCSE History Definition

Reviewed by: Zoe Wade

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Smuggling is the secret and illegal movement of goods or people from one place to another, often to avoid paying taxes or following laws. During different times in history, smugglers moved things like tea, tobacco, and alcohol to avoid high taxes. Smuggling was especially common in the 18th and 19th centuries when these goods were expensive or heavily taxed. This illegal activity often took place along coastlines and involved sneaking goods past border controls. Smugglers played a significant role in history because they challenged laws and influenced trade and economy in different regions.

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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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