Myths and errors in the history of policing in the United States abound. For example, in the proclamation from President John F. Kennedy on the dedication of the week of May 15 as “National Police Week,” President Kennedy noted, “Law-enforcement officers had been protecting Americans since the nation’s birth.” Formal police departments wouldn’t come around for nearly a century after the Nation’s birth. In this section, we will examine how laws were enforced during colonial times and get a glimpse of how modern policing really developed in the United States.
The Beginnings of Law Enforcement in Early America
The Role of the Sheriff
Imagine living in Colonial America, a time when the land was new and full of unknowns. The people who lived there needed someone to help keep things in order, and that’s where the sheriff came in. Think of the sheriff as the superhero of the town, but instead of a cape, he had a lot of responsibilities.
Back then, the sheriff did more than just catch bad guys. He was also in charge of collecting taxes, overseeing elections (making sure that voting was fair), and ensuring that laws were followed. It was a big job!
Unlike today, where police officers try to stop crimes before they happen, the old-time sheriffs mostly reacted to problems. If someone had a problem or complaint, they would go to the sheriff. He would then look into it, sort of like a detective, and if he found enough proof, he’d make an arrest. This way of handling things was pretty straightforward, but it didn’t do much to prevent crimes from happening in the first place.
🔍 Reflect
How do you think the role of the sheriff back then differs from the police officers you see today? Do you think it would have been harder or easier to be a sheriff in Colonial America compared to a modern-day police officer? Why?
When Nighttime Patrols Began in Early America
Keeping the Streets Safe After Dark
Picture this: Boston in the 1600s, a time when there were hardly any streetlights. When night fell, it was really dark, making it a perfect time for people up to no good to sneak around. The leaders of Boston knew they had to do something, so in 1636, they came up with an idea called the “night watch.”
The night watch wasn’t a fancy gadget or a high-tech solution. It was actually a group of regular folks who volunteered to patrol the streets at night. Their mission? To make sure everyone in Boston was safe by keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.
These night watch members were like the neighborhood’s guardians. They’d walk around, making sure everyone was safe in their homes and that nothing shady was going on. If they spotted trouble or someone acting up, they’d sound the alarm. Basically, they were the city’s lookouts when most people were tucked in bed.
Other cities saw how well this worked in Boston and thought, “Hey, we should do that too!” So, night watches started popping up in towns all over America. This was a smart move, ensuring that there were people specifically looking out for everyone’s safety at night.
But it wasn’t just about stopping thieves or keeping an eye on troublemakers. The night watch was a big change in how cities took care of their people. Before, everyone was kind of on their own to stay safe. Now, there was a special group focused on protecting the whole community. This was a major step towards having organized police like we do today.
🔍 Reflect
Imagine being part of a night watch in the 1600s. What challenges do you think you would face? How would it feel to be responsible for keeping your town safe at night?
The Move Towards Professional Policing
Let’s zoom into Philadelphia in 1749. It was a lively city, just like today, but they faced their own unique problems. The leaders of Philadelphia knew that just having a night watch wasn’t enough anymore. They needed more people to help keep the city safe.
So, they came up with a groundbreaking plan. Constables, who were kind of like the sheriffs or police chiefs we know today, got the power to hire extra guards when they needed to. Think of it as calling in reinforcements when things got tough.
But here’s the interesting part: how to pay these new guards? Philadelphia had a clever idea. They introduced a special tax, which meant everyone in the city pitched in a little to ensure their own safety. It was all about the community working together to make sure there were enough guards to keep things peaceful and orderly.
However, every new plan has its bumps in the road. Even though they had this special tax, the money raised wasn’t a lot. So, the guards didn’t get paid much. This low salary caused some issues. Some guards, maybe feeling they weren’t paid enough for their hard work, started to bend the rules. They might take bribes or ignore certain crimes.
This corruption was a big problem. It showed that having more guards was a good start, but it wasn’t enough for truly professional policing. It was also important to have good rules, proper training, and fair pay. What Philadelphia did was really important, though. They started the journey toward the kind of professional police forces we have today.
🔍 Reflect
How important do you think fair pay and proper training are for police officers? Do you think the way Philadelphia handled policing in 1749 has influenced how police forces operate today? Why or why not?
The Challenges of Early Policing
Back in the early days of American policing, things were a bit rough. Imagine a new system trying to stand on its own feet but stumbling a bit. The issues were similar to what London faced with its police—things like corruption, officers who didn’t really know what they were doing, and no clear rules to follow. Clearly, something needed to change.
That’s when New York City stepped up with a big idea in 1844. They decided to fund police patrols for both day and night. Before this, there wasn’t a police force that worked all day, every day. A year later, they took an even bigger step: they merged the daytime and nighttime police forces. This was huge! It meant there was now a police service that was always on, always ready. New York City’s move worked so well that it set a standard, and other cities started thinking, “We should do the same.”
But, as with any new thing, this updated police system had its own challenges. Inside the police departments, there were lots of discussions and disagreements. One big debate was about uniforms. Some officers thought wearing a uniform would make them easy targets. Another major discussion was about weapons. Back in the 1840s, being a police officer could be really dangerous, and sadly, many officers were harmed or even killed while doing their job. This led to a big question: should officers carry weapons for their protection? By the 1850s, most departments agreed that it was a good idea for their officers to be armed to keep them safe on the job.
Through all these ups and downs, American policing kept growing and changing, learning from both the things it got right and the things it didn’t.
🔍 Reflect
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges police officers face today? How do you think the decisions made in the early days of policing in places like New York City have shaped the way police work is done now?
The Changing Social Fabric
As we journey through the 1700s in Colonial America, the major cities began to experience a wave of extraordinary changes. Imagine walking down streets that suddenly filled with different languages and traditions from all around the world. People from Italy, Scandinavia, Ireland, and Germany, to name a few, came to America, bringing their unique customs, delicious foods, beautiful music, and arts. This created a colorful and diverse American culture, enriched by influences from across the globe.
However, such rapid changes came with their own set of problems. This blend of cultures, while exciting, also led to some misunderstandings and conflicts. People from different backgrounds had their own ways of speaking, living, and celebrating, which sometimes clashed. This era was a real test of how well the different communities in colonial society could adapt and get along with each other.
The impact of these changes was felt everywhere. In the busy cities of the North and the peaceful towns of the South, the traditional night watch groups found themselves struggling. Their old ways of keeping the peace just weren’t enough for the new, more complex society they were now living in.
In the South, there was an additional, more troubling issue: slavery. The sad reality of slavery brought about the creation of slave patrols. These groups were made to control and frighten enslaved people. Although they’re not often talked about, these patrols had a big impact on how law enforcement developed in the Southern states. It’s important to understand these different aspects to get a full picture of what life and law enforcement were like during this time.
🔍 Reflect
How do you think the arrival of people from different countries with their own traditions and languages affected the way communities interacted with each other in Colonial America? How might these changes have influenced the way communities and law enforcement had to adapt?
Slave Patrols: A Dark Chapter in Policing
In the early 1700s, South Carolina saw the rise of slave patrols. These groups were set up mainly to keep an eye on and control the enslaved African population (Hadden, 2001). They were known for being harsh, using a lot of force, and trying to scare people into following orders (Turner, Giacopassi, & Vandiver, 2006). Although they started with focusing on enslaved Africans, their role eventually grew to include overseeing White indentured servants too. This shows how race and class were closely connected in those times (Brown, 2006).
As time went on and America changed, so did these slave patrols. They started to blend with different groups like the federal military, state militias, and even with extremist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (Rucker & Jubilee, 2007). Their names and structures might have changed, but their main goal stayed the same: to keep control, often by using violence (Foner, 2019).
The shift from slave patrols to the police agencies we have now in the South is a significant part of American history, especially when talking about race, power, and law enforcement (Williams, 2007). By the mid-1800s, big cities began to create unified police departments, taking some ideas from English policing. This was the start of what we know as modern American policing (Walker & Katz, 2011). However, the influence of these earlier patrols and the complicated issues they brought up are still felt today.
🔍 Reflect
How do you think the history of slave patrols has influenced the way policing is viewed and practiced in modern America? Why is it important to understand and remember this part of history when discussing law enforcement and social issues?
Conclusion
The journey of policing in Colonial America reflects its societal changes, challenges, and evolution. From the humble beginnings of reactive sheriffs and night watches to the formation of modern police departments, law enforcement has always been a mirror of society’s needs and challenges. While many historical debates have found resolution, discussions on the use of force by the police continue to be relevant, reminding us of the ever-evolving nature of policing and its relationship with the society it serves.
Summary
In this section, we delve into the history of policing in the United States, unraveling the myths and presenting a clearer picture of its evolution. Contrary to popular belief, formal police departments in America were established nearly a century after the nation’s birth, indicating a gradual progression in law enforcement practices.
The Beginnings of Law Enforcement in Early America The role of the sheriff in Colonial America was pivotal. More than just law enforcers, sheriffs had diverse responsibilities, including tax collection and election supervision. Unlike modern policing which focuses on crime prevention, these sheriffs were more reactive, addressing issues as they arose.
When Nighttime Patrols Began in Early America In the 1600s, Boston introduced the “night watch,” a group of volunteers patrolling the streets at night. This initiative, aimed at ensuring safety in the absence of street lighting, marked a significant shift towards organized community protection and inspired other cities to adopt similar measures.
The Move Towards Professional Policing Philadelphia, in 1749, introduced a funded daytime and nighttime police force, leading to the formation of a continuous police service. This development, funded through a special tax, marked a significant advancement in organized policing, despite challenges like low salaries and resulting corruption.
The Challenges of Early Policing New York City, in 1844, made a monumental change by merging its daytime and nighttime forces, creating a 24/7 police service. Debates on uniforms and the arming of officers reflected the evolving nature of police work amidst the dangers of the time.
The Changing Social Fabric The 1700s saw a cultural transformation in Colonial America, with an influx of immigrants bringing diverse languages and traditions. This period tested the adaptability of the society and law enforcement, leading to the development of more sophisticated policing methods.
Slave Patrols: A Dark Chapter in Policing In South Carolina, the early 1700s witnessed the emergence of slave patrols, marked by their brutality and focus on controlling the enslaved African population. Over time, these patrols evolved, merging with military and extremist groups, and played a crucial role in shaping the law enforcement landscape, particularly in the South.
Conclusion The evolution of policing in Colonial America reflects its societal shifts and challenges. From sheriffs and night watches to modern police departments, policing has continually adapted to societal needs. This history highlights ongoing discussions about force in policing and emphasizes the importance of understanding the past to navigate present and future challenges in law enforcement.
Key Terms
References and Further Reading
- Brown, K. (2006). Race, law, and relations: A historical overview. Southern University Law Review.
- Foner, E. (2019). Reconstruction: America’s unfinished revolution, 1863-1877. Harper & Row.
- Hadden, S. (2001). Slave patrols: Law and violence in Virginia and the Carolinas. Harvard University Press.
- Rucker, W., & Jubilee, R. (2007). The river flows on: Black resistance, culture, and identity formation in early America. Louisiana State University Press.
- Turner, K. B., Giacopassi, D. J., & Vandiver, M. (2006). Ignoring the past: Coverage of slavery and slave patrols in criminal justice texts. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 17(1), 181-195.
- Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2017). The police in America: An introduction. McGraw-Hill.
Modification History File Created: 08/15/2018 Last Modified: 12/11/2023
This work is licensed under an Open Educational Resource-Quality Master Source (OER-QMS) License.
