Almost all nations in the world and a majority of the states in the United States have made capital punishment legal and have enforced it in many ways. The death penalty was used in most cases to punish those who broke the laws or standards that were expected of them. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as eighteenth century BC, however executions have drastically changed since then. Punishment back then would be considered ‘cruel and unusual’ today. This explains why the ways of executing someone have changed. Examples of capital punishment back then included being buried alive, boiling in oil, being crushed under the feet of elephants, being starved to death, and even being beheaded. Today the most popular ways of execution include getting a lethal injection or being electrocuted. Other methods include being put in a gas chamber, being hanged, and being shot down by a firing squad. However, these methods of execution are only allowed in very few states. There is also controversy when it comes to deciding if the death penalty violates a citizen’s Eighth Amendment. The Eighth Amendment states that, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” It has been decided that the death penalty does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual
Almost all nations in the world and a majority of the states in the United States have made capital punishment legal and have enforced it in many ways. The death penalty was used in most cases to punish those who broke the laws or standards that were expected of them. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as eighteenth century BC, however executions have drastically changed since then. Punishment back then would be considered ‘cruel and unusual’ today. This explains why the ways of executing someone have changed. Examples of capital punishment back then included being buried alive, boiling in oil, being crushed under the feet of elephants, being starved to death, and even being beheaded. Today the most popular ways of execution include getting a lethal injection or being electrocuted. Other methods include being put in a gas chamber, being hanged, and being shot down by a firing squad. However, these methods of execution are only allowed in very few states. There is also controversy when it comes to deciding if the death penalty violates a citizen’s Eighth Amendment. The Eighth Amendment states that, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” It has been decided that the death penalty does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual