History of The Death Penalty

First case of Death Penalty

1608

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

First Woman Killed via Death Penalty

1632

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

Michigan Abolishes Death Penalty

1847

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

Electrocution Introduced

1890

William Kemmler becomes the first person killed using electrocution.

Death Penalty Abolished by More States

Period: 1907 to 1917

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

Gas Introduced for Death Penalty

1924

Cyanide gas is introduced to kill in the death penalty, adding on to the multiple ways the death penalty is enforced.

Executions Are at an All Time High

Period: 1930 to 1939

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

Lethal injection Introduced as Form of Death Penalty

1977

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

1986

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

Death Penalty Cannot Be Given to Minors

1989

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