The
first death penalty dates as far back in the 18th century B.C. During
the early days in Britain 222 crimes were punishable by death penalty; this
includes stealing, cutting a tree illegally, and robbing. Due to the
exaggeration of the counted crimes, death penalty was later cut to 100
punishable crimes between the years 1823-1837. The usual forms of execution
back then were hanging, crucifixion, drowning, impaling, beating to death, and
being burned alive.
America’s
death penalty was greatly influenced by Britain’s death penalty. This happened
when European settlers came to the new world. In 1608, the first recorded
execution in America happened in Jamestown colony of Virginia. The victim was
Captain George Kendall who was executed for being a spy for Spain. During the
early days laws constituting the sentence of death penalty varied from colonies
to colonies.
