History of the Death Penalty
16th Century BC Ancient Egypt- First recorded death penalty happened as the prisoner was accused of using magic (Readings)
1608-George Kendall was the name of the man who was executed at that time, and since then the number of executions quickly rose (Davis).He was executed in 1608 for allegedly plotting to betray the British to Spain (Davis). This was the first case of capital punishment in American civilization (Davis).
1612- Virgina's Govenor, Sir Thomas Dale, implemented "Divine Moral," and "Martial Law," which made the death penalty availible for basically any crime (Readings).
1617- Virginia Lightened up on these laws for fear nobody would settle in Virginia (Readings).
1767- Very influential writing by Italian journalist Cesare Beccaria on abolishing the death penalty. He argued that there was never a reason for taking another human's life (Readings). This goes to show how long people have believed the death penalty was wrong.
1776- The first legal reforms attempts to reform the death penalty in America began. Thomas Jefferson led an effort that attempted to change Virginia's law to where capital punishment was only used in cases of treason and murder. The bill failed by one vote (Readings).
1833-1853- Large reforms to capital punishment took place. Many people started to believe that such things as public hangings were cruel. This led to many states requiring private hangings (Readings).
1846- Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty all together (Readings)
1852- Rhode Island abolished the death penalty (Readings).
1890- Electric chair came into use (Readings).
1911-1917- Eight states abolished the death penalty (Readings).
1972- Furman vs. Georgia. This Supreme Court case ruled that the death penalty was cruel and unusual and in a vote of 5-4, ended capital punishment in the United States (Readings).
1975- 30 states passed laws which allowed capital punishment on a state level (Readings).
1976- Gregg vs. Georgia- The Supreme court ruled that capital punishment was not always cruel and unusual, and allowed Georgia along with the other states to keep their capital punishment laws (Readings).
As of 1946, it was recorded that America's accumulated execution total was 17,130 (Davis). During that time period, the time when the most executions occurred was from 1926-1946, when 2.9 executions were averaged per week (Davis). Since that period, the number of executions has declined. We are continuing to decrease the amount of people executed, but the fact remains that we are still executing human beings. In 1767, many people believed that capital punishment was wrong. We as a society have developed in so many ways, yet still hold on to this unjust way of punishing crime. Have we not progressed any further than we were since the very first year of our country? It is time we take a stand, and finish the fight that has been going on for centuries.
1608-George Kendall was the name of the man who was executed at that time, and since then the number of executions quickly rose (Davis).He was executed in 1608 for allegedly plotting to betray the British to Spain (Davis). This was the first case of capital punishment in American civilization (Davis).
1612- Virgina's Govenor, Sir Thomas Dale, implemented "Divine Moral," and "Martial Law," which made the death penalty availible for basically any crime (Readings).
1617- Virginia Lightened up on these laws for fear nobody would settle in Virginia (Readings).
1767- Very influential writing by Italian journalist Cesare Beccaria on abolishing the death penalty. He argued that there was never a reason for taking another human's life (Readings). This goes to show how long people have believed the death penalty was wrong.
1776- The first legal reforms attempts to reform the death penalty in America began. Thomas Jefferson led an effort that attempted to change Virginia's law to where capital punishment was only used in cases of treason and murder. The bill failed by one vote (Readings).
1833-1853- Large reforms to capital punishment took place. Many people started to believe that such things as public hangings were cruel. This led to many states requiring private hangings (Readings).
1846- Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty all together (Readings)
1852- Rhode Island abolished the death penalty (Readings).
1890- Electric chair came into use (Readings).
1911-1917- Eight states abolished the death penalty (Readings).
1972- Furman vs. Georgia. This Supreme Court case ruled that the death penalty was cruel and unusual and in a vote of 5-4, ended capital punishment in the United States (Readings).
1975- 30 states passed laws which allowed capital punishment on a state level (Readings).
1976- Gregg vs. Georgia- The Supreme court ruled that capital punishment was not always cruel and unusual, and allowed Georgia along with the other states to keep their capital punishment laws (Readings).
As of 1946, it was recorded that America's accumulated execution total was 17,130 (Davis). During that time period, the time when the most executions occurred was from 1926-1946, when 2.9 executions were averaged per week (Davis). Since that period, the number of executions has declined. We are continuing to decrease the amount of people executed, but the fact remains that we are still executing human beings. In 1767, many people believed that capital punishment was wrong. We as a society have developed in so many ways, yet still hold on to this unjust way of punishing crime. Have we not progressed any further than we were since the very first year of our country? It is time we take a stand, and finish the fight that has been going on for centuries.