History of The Death Penalty

By mseh

  • First case of Death Penalty

    Captain George Kendall was killed in Virginia for being a Spanish spy.

  • First Woman Killed via Death Penalty

    Jane Champion is sentenced to the death penalty becoming the first woman killed by death penalty.

  • Michigan Abolishes Death Penalty

    Michigan becomes the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason.

  • Electrocution Introduced

    William Kemmler becomes the first person killed using electrocution.
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    Death Penalty Abolished by More States

    Nine states abolish the death penalty for all crimes or strictly limit it.

  • Gas Introduced for Death Penalty

    Cyanide gas is introduced to kill in the death penalty, adding on to the multiple ways the death penalty is enforced.
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    Executions Are at an All Time High

    Executions are getting more and more popular. They avergage 167 per year.

  • Lethal injection Introduced as Form of Death Penalty

    Oklahoma is the first state to adopt the form of lethal injection as a way to be put to death.

  • Execution of Mentally Insane Banned

    The execution of the mentally insane is banned after Ford vs. Wainwright.

  • Death Penalty Cannot Be Given to Minors

    Anyone 17 or under cannot be sentenced to the death penalty due to the Eighth Amendment, Stanford v. Kentucky, and Wilkins v. Missouri.