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Before formal police departments were established in England, the first policing system used was the bohr system, which were small groups of men responsible for each other’s behavior. After the Norman invasion of 1066, it was replaced by the frankpledge system, where tithings of ten households ensured accused members appeared in court or everyone faced penalties. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 95). This introduced collective responsibility and accountability, later influencing American policing. -
In 1704, a new way of monitoring slaves was introduced. Slave patrols were made up of 3-6 white men that regulated the behavior of enslaved individuals and punished escaped slaves. The use of slave patrols spread throughout the South and laid the foundation for more legislative laws, such as the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.(Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 98) -
In North Carolina, there was an uproar of armed, low-class citizens that turned on colonial officials, accusing them of collecting taxes for their own personal gain, and wanted a more honest government. The militia, however, intervened and halted this protest. In South Carolina, during the 1760's, citizens turned against officials, but because of outlaw gangs that attacked the citizens. This is what resulted in funding for crime improvements.(Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 98)
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Sir Robert Peel, England's home secretary, replaced the earlier policing system of Britain, constables and watchmen, with London's Metropolitan Police Force. Although this agency had many flaws including bribery and corruption, crime rate dropped significantly. Peel also created the Peelian principles, which led to modern police systems. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 96) -
In 1850, the U.S. Congress introduced the Fugitive Slave Law, which penalized anyone aiding runaways with up to 6 months in prison or a $1,000 fine. This law intensified the surveillance and punishment of both free and enslaved Black individuals, influenced by the brutal tactics of early slave patrols. This laid the foundation for more racialized policing in years to come. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 98) -
The IACP first took form in 1871, and the goal of this association was to discuss policing issues but after the first meeting, there were no more. In 1893, the chief of police started up this organization once more, but again, the meeting was unsuccessful. In 1921, the second president of IACP made many advances in the organization such as advocating for a fingerprint collection system and having a uniform crime data, which is now used by the FBI. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, pgs. 100-102)
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In the 1800s, the inclusion of men of all races and sexualities in the police force began. In 1872, Black men began working as police officers. The first Hispanic officer’s date isn’t official, but 1868 or earlier is likely. American Indians and Asians also became officers during this time. LGBTQ+ individuals were accepted closer to 2004. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, pgs. 105–107)
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In the 1880s, Lucy Gray became the first LA police matron. She wasn’t a sworn officer but still performed similar duties. In 1893, Marie Owens was the first woman to carry out police work in Chicago. She later held the sergeant rank and enforced welfare laws. In 1905, Lola Baldwin became the first female officer in Portland, Oregon. In 1910, she became the first full-time paid female officer. In 1916, Georgia Robinson became the first Black female officer in LA. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 103)
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John F. Kennedy initiated the Civil Rights act, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It also ended segregation in public places such as schools and workplaces. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, p. 108-109) -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 strengthened the laws in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Also signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, it banned literacy tests used to suppress Black voters. States with histories of racial discrimination, like Texas, were required to obtain federal approval, or preclearance, before changing their voting laws. In 2013, the Supreme Court ended the use of preclearance, weakening the Act’s enforcement power. (Rennison Dodge, 2021, pgs. 108-109) -
On September 11th, 2001, there was a coordinated terrorist attack where 4 planes were hijacked. Two of the planes crashed into the twin towers in New York City, killing thousands. This attack is what changed foreign policy tremendously. All of the regulations that are now implemented when getting on a plane are because of this event.