Death Penalty
...penalty, the contradiction between international human rights and the death penalty; to prove the capital punishment is not deterrent, in the light of historical experiments.
-------HISTORY---------
The first traces of the death penalty could be seen in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon in the 18th century BC, but the first recorded punishment was in the 16th century BC in Egypt. Also, in the 14th century BC’s Hittite Code, and in the 7th century BC’s Draconian Code of Athens, according to which for every crime death penalty was made, and in the 5th century BC’s Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets it was possible to see the punishment. Burial alive, drowning at sea, beating to death, stoning, beheading and crucifiction were the most common ways of execution. To set a famous example, Greek philosoper Socrates was killed by being drunk poison for the reason that he had led the degradation of the youth.( Randa 1-2)
-------AMERICA----------
As for reforms about the death penalty; the first reforms occured between 1776-1800. A group of people led by Thomas Jefferson proposed a law that recommended the death penalty for only treason and murder. After a stormy debate the legislature defeated the bill by one vote.(Randa 4) Finally, in 1846, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty, except for treason against the state. The second Great Reform era was 1895-1917. In 1897, U.S. Congress passed a bill reducing the number of federal death crimes. In 1907, Kansas abolished all death penalties with the “Main Law”. Then, eight more states abolished capital punishment. Also, other states came close to ending the death penalty. This process continues even today. Citizens’s fear for their security creates a strong movement against lawnessness. As a result of this, governments are calling for more frequent death penalties, longer prison...
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