Morality of Capital Punishment

Paper Summary:

The paper provides a brief examination of the history of the death penalty in the United States and then offers an analysis of the states that practice this punishment, with statistics concerning the rate of execution, race, sex and other details. Taking these facts into consideration, the paper considers the use of the death penalty, support and opposition for this, and the religious, political and ethical motivations for supporting the death penalty. The paper concludes with a summary of the main arguments for the death penalty that involve the issues of religion, morality, deterrence and justice.

Outline:
Introduction
A History of the Death Penalty in the United States
States Who Have the Death Penalty, States who Don't
Results So Far
Application of the Death Penalty
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Capital Punishment is one of the most controversial areas of modern American society. Opponents and supporters of the death penalty are both very passionate about the subject; accusations of racism and cruelty from one side are met with accusations of bleeding hearts and lack of concern for the victims of crime. However, this debate mostly occurs over the heads of ordinary Americans, who in poll after poll, reveal that they support the death penalty for those convicted of a capital crime. (Clark Prosecutor, Opinion Polls, 2006). The question of legality, morality, and cruelty still dogs the application of the death sentence to this day. In previous centuries, capital punishment was the norm in all countries, and certain acts which would not be punishable now were capital: the witch trials in Northern Europe, for example, resulted in the executions of many women, mostly by hanging."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Amnesty International (2003) "United States of America: Death by Discrimination - the continuing role of race in Capital cases" Amnesty International publication
• Anderson, David (2005) The Death Penalty - A Defense http://www.yesdeathpenalty.com/argument_1.htm accessed 27 September 2007
• Burns, Walter, And Bessette, Joseph (1996) "Why the Death Penalty is Fair" Wall Street Journal Jan 09, 1998
• Campbell, Alexander (no date) "Is Capital Punishment Sanctioned By Divine Authority?" http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/acampbell/capital.html
• Clark Prosecutor (2006) "Public Opinion Polls" "The Death Penalty in the US (1976-2006)"Both sources found at http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/opinion/htm 27 September 2007

More papers on Morality of Capital Punishment:

• Persuasive Essay # 116306 : "The Immorality of Capital Punishment"
• Analytical Essay # 9072 : "Billy Budd": A Critique of Capital Punishment"
• Analytical Essay # 128612 : "The Problem of Capital Punishment"

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