Social Mentalities and the History of the Death Penalty Abolition in the Nineteenth Century America
Abstract:
The history of death penalty abolition movements in nineteenth century America reveals telling consequences about the role social mentalities have on influencing reform movements. As a result of changing social mentalities, death penalty reforms and abolition was achieved in northern states during the nineteenth century. Meanwhile, slavery and racism in the south stunted attitudes towards reform and abolition. In a few western states, Progressive era transformations, the popular press, and prominent reformers influenced social mentalities in favor of abolition, but changing social mentalities lead to its reinstatement. Examining social mentalities reveals the inconsistent history of the death penalty in nineteenth century America.