Argumentative Essay Example: Opposing Capital Punishment
English Composition
EN101S-6LC
October 12, 2011
Argumentative Essay: Opposing Capital Punishment
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a brief overview of capital punishment throughout history would go like this: Back in the eighteenth century B.C. death penalty laws were first established in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon. In the eleventh century A.D. William the Conqueror did not allow people to be hanged except in cases of murder. As of 1608, Captain George Kendall became the first recorded execution in the new colonies. Jane Champion was the first women executed in the new colonies in 1632. In 1834 Pennsylvania became the first state to move executions into correctional facilities. Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason in 1846. As of 1890, William Kemmler became the first person executed by electrocution. Between 1907 and 1917 nine states abolished the death penalty for all crimes or they strictly limited it. In 1924 the use of cyanide gas was introduced as an execution method. In the 1930s executions reached its highest levels in American history- averaging 167 deaths per year. As of 1977, Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a method of execution. December 7th 1982 Charles Brookes became the first person executed by lethal injection. In January 1999 Pope John Paul visited St. Louis, Missouri and called for an end to the death penalty. In March 2011 Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to repeal the death penalty in Illinois by replacing it with life without parole this year (Death Penalty Information Center).
Harmon 2
Capital Punishment is the sentencing of death to a convicted criminal. The type of execution varies by state. It is important since people are being executed in different ways for different reasons. Capital punishment should not be an acceptable way of delivering justice for many reasons including state law differences in methods of
EN101S-6LC
October 12, 2011
Argumentative Essay: Opposing Capital Punishment
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a brief overview of capital punishment throughout history would go like this: Back in the eighteenth century B.C. death penalty laws were first established in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon. In the eleventh century A.D. William the Conqueror did not allow people to be hanged except in cases of murder. As of 1608, Captain George Kendall became the first recorded execution in the new colonies. Jane Champion was the first women executed in the new colonies in 1632. In 1834 Pennsylvania became the first state to move executions into correctional facilities. Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason in 1846. As of 1890, William Kemmler became the first person executed by electrocution. Between 1907 and 1917 nine states abolished the death penalty for all crimes or they strictly limited it. In 1924 the use of cyanide gas was introduced as an execution method. In the 1930s executions reached its highest levels in American history- averaging 167 deaths per year. As of 1977, Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a method of execution. December 7th 1982 Charles Brookes became the first person executed by lethal injection. In January 1999 Pope John Paul visited St. Louis, Missouri and called for an end to the death penalty. In March 2011 Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to repeal the death penalty in Illinois by replacing it with life without parole this year (Death Penalty Information Center).
Harmon 2
Capital Punishment is the sentencing of death to a convicted criminal. The type of execution varies by state. It is important since people are being executed in different ways for different reasons. Capital punishment should not be an acceptable way of delivering justice for many reasons including state law differences in methods of