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1800 BCE
The start of Capital Punishment
The first established death penalty regulations can be found in King Hammurabi of Babylon's Code, which legislated the death sentence for 25 separate offenses in the Eighteenth Century B.C. -
1100
Morality of Capital Punishment
Around 11th century A.D. - Except in cases of murder, William the Conqueror will not allow people to be hanged, challenging and defining what is eligible for capital punishment -
Adopted by the New Colonies (modern day America)
In 1608, Captain George Kendall becomes the first recorded execution in the new colonies. Spying was the motive that brought forth his capital punishment. -
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Wide Spread Opposition
The abolitionist movement in the United States started in the late 1700s questioning capital punishment.
through the early 1800s, many jurisdictions limited the number of capital punishments and in return created state penitentiaries for those committing capital offenses, -
Is Capital Punishment Morally Correct?
Cesare Beccaria famously criticizes capital punishment in her essay on crimes and punishment, published in 1767. She theorizes that the state has no justification for taking a life. -
For or Nor?
Pennsylvania is the first state to shift executions to correctional facilities in 1834. However in 1847 in capital offenses with the exception of treason, Michigan becomes the first state to abolish the death penalty. -
Capital Punishment Progresses
The number of executions reaches an all-time high in the 1930s, with an average of 167 per year. This is due to a lack in the abolishment movement and advancements in death penalty methods such as the electric chair and gas chamber. -
U.S. Abolishes Capital Punishment
In 1948, The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaiming a “right to life.” -
Ebbs and Flows
In 1966, support of capital punishment reaches all-time low. A Gallup poll shows support of the death penalty at only 42%. -
Death Penalty Reinstated
In 1976, Gregg v. Georgia, legislation allowing for guided discretion was approved allowing the death penalty to be been reintroduced. -
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Discretionary Enhancements
Thompson v. Oklahoma is a case from 1988. It is prohibited to execute offenders who were fifteen years old or younger at the time of their offenses. Stanford v. Kentucky and Wilkins v. Missouri were both decided in 1989. The death penalty is not prohibited by the Eighth Amendment for offenses committed while a person is sixteen or seventeen years old. Penry v. Lynaugh, 1989. The Eighth Amendment does not prohibit the execution of people who are "mentally retarded." -
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Latest trends
New York's high court declares the death sentence law unconstitutional in 2004.
December 2007 – The New Jersey General Assembly votes to repeal capital punishment since its reinstatement in 1976.
In 2009, Governor Bill Richardson, and in 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn signs legislation repealing the death sentence in New Mexico and Illinois and thus replacing it with life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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