American Policing: Historical Developments from Colonial to Modern Times

American Policing: The Colonial Experience

North

Policing during the colonial era in the North was usually informal and community-oriented. Towns were adequately maintained, and the enforcing laws were overseen. The night watch system was introduced during this time, and volunteers controlled the streets to prevent crime and fires. Balko (2021) stated that the first night watch was developed in Boston in 1636. From this point, the formalization of the law enforcement structures began.

South

In the South, policing was influenced by slavery, and progress was slow during the colonial era. Slave patrols created control over the population and decreased uprising processes (Balko, 2021). These patrols, compared to white people, have been given more power to punish enslaved people. This early form of policing created a biased relationship between law enforcement and people of color, and this problem remains massive to this day.

American Policing: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

Urban Regions

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, police forces became more organized. Professional departments were created, and one early cooperation was made in New York (Hartman, 2022). The first modern police appeared in Boston in 1838 under the control of Sir Robert Peel, who have been famous for his police passion across the nation (Hartman, 2022). This period is popular for transforming community-based policing into a more structured scheme.

Southern Regions

In the South, the influence of slavery was still massive during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The enforcement of Black Codes after the Civil War restricted the rights of African Americans, and the law was always used to control this part of the nation (Hartman, 2022). The Ku Klux Klan, a paramilitary organization, engaged in the violence, and the rules were neglected at this time.

American Frontier

On the American Frontier, law enforcement faced unique challenges related to vigilante justice. The absence of formal authorities and strict rules created chaos in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As settlements grew, the number of new sheriffs officed appeared to maintain order. The Texas Rangers, formed in the 1830s, played a crucial role in law enforcement on the frontiers (Hartman, 2022). They dealt with problems like interpersonal conflicts and Native American tribes.

American Policing: The Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

1900-1960

The early 20th century faced the professionalism of police representatives. Providing special vehicles and communication technologies improves the performance of the sector and the workers (Go, 2020). However, issues such as corruption and political influence could not allow police departments to become stronger and better. The level of crime stayed the same, and law enforcement focused on combating illegal alcohol production and distribution.

The 1960s and 1970s

The Civil Rights Movement brought attention to police brutality and racial discrimination. Riots and protests boosted reforms in police departments to decrease the level of aggression. There was a massive need for change to ensure the nations continued promoting peace. The 1967 President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice announced community-oriented policing (Go, 2020). Therefore, the police-community relations improved, and the most common problem of discrimination started to be solved.

The 1980s and 1990s

The “War on Drugs” could become one of the main aspects that led to new reforms in the police industry. Law enforcement started militarization to gain prominence and decrease crime (Go, 2020). This process resulted in more hiring procedures and training to implement new community policing strategies and create a better world. In this case, the discrimination started decreasing, and a more protective environment was ensured.

The 2000s

The 21st century brought concerns about terrorism and general security. Such events as 9/11 led to federal involvement to protect the nations from attacks (Demir & Guler, 2023). The calls were promoted, and a new model of regulations was introduced. The Black Lives Matter movement appeared as the trust in the police increased. The renewed scrutiny of issues of police violence was introduced, and systematic racism started decreasing.

References

Balko, R. (2021). Rise of the warrior cop: The militarization of America’s police forces. PublicAffairs.

Demir, M., & Guler, A. (2023). The effect of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on suicide terrorism. Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 15(1), 24-41. Web.

Go, J. (2020). The imperial origins of American policing: Militarization and imperial feedback in the early 20thcentury. American Journal of Sociology, 125(5). Web.

Hartman, S. (2022). Scenes of subjection: Terror, slavery and self-Making in nineteenth-century America. W. W. Norton.

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DemoEssays. (2025) 'American Policing: Historical Developments from Colonial to Modern Times'. 1 May.

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DemoEssays. 2025. "American Policing: Historical Developments from Colonial to Modern Times." May 1, 2025. https://demoessays.com/american-policing-historical-developments-from-colonial-to-modern-times/.

1. DemoEssays. "American Policing: Historical Developments from Colonial to Modern Times." May 1, 2025. https://demoessays.com/american-policing-historical-developments-from-colonial-to-modern-times/.


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DemoEssays. "American Policing: Historical Developments from Colonial to Modern Times." May 1, 2025. https://demoessays.com/american-policing-historical-developments-from-colonial-to-modern-times/.