Law Enforcement in America

Law Enforcement before the 1900s was basic and harsh, but still had an impact on our law enforcement today. Throughout the decades it has advanced and the new technology and ways of thinking have helped officers make more accurate convictions and be able to catch more felons easier. The law enforcement we see during this time period includes many types of law enforcers, harsh punishments, lack of rules against the types of weapons they could carry, and not to mention, the lack of technology that left them at a huge disadvantage, as opposed to what we have today. Law Enforcement was way less advanced back before the 1900s and had many disadvantages regarding citizens and the felons among them. As a result, law enforcement grew and developed through the years trying to reach somewhere close to perfection, regarding protecting its citizens from the criminals among them.

The history of law enforcement is an extensive one, with all the innovations and ways of thinking. If you think about it law enforcement and the enforcers are affected and affect all aspects of our history, all the way through, immigration, prohibition, and any aspect you can think of in any aspect of today's world.

The first police force in the United States was founded more than 350 years ago in Boston. This “police force” was called The Watch and consisted of six watchmen, one constable, and several volunteers who patrolled at night, walking the rounds. The law enforcement in America was very similar to that of England at the time. There were established “watches” in local areas, governor appointed sheriffs, and constables elected by the people. All of these individuals were responsible for controlling slaves and Indians; maintaining order; regulating specialized functions such as selling in the market and delivering goods; maintaining health and sanitation; managing pests and other animals; ensuring the orderly use of streets by vehicles; controlling liquor, gambling, vice, and weapons; and keeping watch for fires.

While the northern cities the night watches were established to watch over the town/city, the southern cities slave patrols were created to keep track of, control, return, and punish runaway slaves. In 1837, Charleston, South Carolina, had a slave patrol with over one hundred officers, which was much larger than any northern city police group at that time. However, law enforcement out west was very different. Towns out west with settlers from northern colonies created marshals and police forces similar to those in the northern colonies, while towns with settlers from the south had sheriffs and posses. In the west, vigilantes were created to defeat any threat to the town. These groups had a significant influence, including the lack of respect for the law, which had been introduced through vigilante violence.

During the Industrial Revolution, the number of factories, buildings,