Jack the Ripper

The identity of the killer of five - or possibly six - women in the East End of London in 1888 has remained a mystery, but the case has continued to horrify and fascinate.

Between August and November 1888,the Whitechapel area of London was the scene of five brutal murders. The killer was dubbed 'Jack the Ripper'. All the women murdered were prostitutes, and all except for one - Elizabeth Stride - were horribly mutilated.

Conditions that helped

Between August and November 1888, five women were brutally killed in Whitechapel, an area of London.

The murderer was never caught. There has been much speculation about the who they were. One suggestion is that he or she was a doctor or butcher, based on the evidence and the injuries that occurred, which showed a knowledge of the human body.

They were able to get away with the crimes because of the situation at the time. For example, violence against prostitutes was not uncommon and there were many instances of women being abused. London was also very dark, smoggy and dirty due to the pollution caused by the Industrial conditions at the time.

Consequences of Oliver Cromwell's rule

Destroyed the power of the king – for which he is sometimes called the 'father of democracy'.

Destroyed the royalist resistance and brought the Civil Wars to an end. Introduced Puritan religion and way of life to Britain. United the country in hatred of rule by the major-generals. Britain has since

been hostile towards the possibility of a military dictatorship. Created in Ireland a long-lasting hatred of and resistance to rule from a

government in London.

Built up the British navy - this was the

start of Britain's naval supremacy. Captured Jamaica from the Spanish - and

thus began the British Empire. Allowed Jewish people to return to Britain.

However, many of these consequences were temporary – the Restoration of Charles II (when Charles I son was made king) saw the return of the monarchy, the Church of England and a freer way of life.

In Britain today all policemen are commonly referred to as ‘Bobbies’! Originally though, they were known as ‘Peelers’ in reference to one Sir Robert Peel (1788 – 1850).

There were only 1,000 of Peel’s police to try to protect London. They were dressed in blue Tail-coats and top hats. To be a ‘Peeler’ the rules were quite strict. You had to be 6ft tall and have no history of any wrong-doings. The 'Peelers' were issued with a wooden truncheon carried in a long pocket in the tail of their coat, a pair of handcuffs and a wooden rattle to raise the alarm. By the 1880s this rattle had been replaced by a whistle.

Year 8 Jack the Ripper

1.W

hat

did

‘Jac

k th

e Ri

pper

’ do?

4. Why is it so hard to know who the Ripper was?

7. Describe the appearance of Jack the

Ripper.

10. Why did the treatment of prostitutes help Jack get away?

Consequences of Oliver Cromwell's rule