Public Executions example essay topic

283 words
Capitol punishment is our most extreme sanction, and in the united states it is generally for only the most heinous first degree murderers. However, this not always the case; for example, the federal goverment has over 60 capitol offenses outside of first degree murder, including carjackings involving murder and drive by shootings. Although the death penatly is rarely imposed, its highly controversial nature and irreversible consequences require that arguments for and against its use be discussed between 1930 and march 2000, 4,483 prisoners in the united states were executed. In colonial days, executions were well-attended public events. Sermons were give, not only to preach to the condemned, but also to reinforce the importance of holy behavior and retribution for the disobedient assembled public. However, by the 19 century, middle-class america had become dissatisfied with the public display of suffering: it had become for them a source of distress, a cruel event to be avoided at all cost.

In the south, public executions-both legal an illegal continued for some time. After the abolition of slavery, many southern whites sought alternative ways to control the black population. Racial fear and hatred led to many lynchings, which were considered noble acts of popular justice well into the 20th century. Annual executions peaked in the 1930's, with 197 executions in 1935.

Executions then declined dramatically from the 1940 until they haltered altogether in 1967. Since the death penatly was reinstated in 1976, executions has risen unsteadily. By 1976, death row inmates waited an average of 13 months for their executions. Between 1977 and 1984 the average stay on death row rose to 6 years.