Capital punishment: history

Capital punishment is a legal infliction of the death penalty, in modern law, corporal punishment in its most severe form. The usual alternative to the death penalty is long-term or life imprisonment.

The earliest historical records contain evidence of capital punishment. It was mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi. The Bible prescribed death as the penalty for more than 30 different crimes, ranging from murder to fornication. The Draconian Code of ancient Greece imposed capital punishment for every offence.

In England, during the reign of William the Conqueror, the death penalty was not used, although the results of interrogation and torture were often fatal. By the end of the 15^th century, English law recognized six major crimes: treason, murder, larceny, burglary, rape and arson. By 1800 more than 200 capital crimes were recognized, and as a result, 1000 or more persons were sentenced to death each year (although most sentences were commuted by royal pardon). In early American colonies the death penalty was commonly authorized for a wide variety of crimes. Blacks, whether slave or free, were threatened with death for many crimes that were punished less severely when committed by whites.

Efforts to abolish the death penalty did not gather momentum until the end of the 18^th century. In Europe, a short treatise, On Crimes and Punishments, by the Italian jurist Cesare Beccaria, inspired influential thinkers such as the French philosopher Voltaire to oppose torture, flogging and the death penalty.

The abolition of capital punishment in England in November 1965 was welcomed by most people with humane and progressive ideas. To them it seemed a departure from feudalism, from the cruel pre-Christian spirit of revenge: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Many of these people think differently now.Since the abolition of capital punishment crime – and especially murder – has been on increase throughout Britain. Today, therefore, public opinion in Britain has changed. People who before, also in Parliament, stated that capital punishment was not a deterrent to murder – for there have always been murders in all countries with or without the law of execution- now feel that killing the assassin is the lesser of two evils. Capital punishment, they think, may not be the ideal answer, but it is better than nothing, especially when, as in England, a sentence of life imprisonment only lasts eight or nine years.

 

II. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate words from the list below:

 

Lasts, crimes, to abolish, assassin, imposed, evidence, severely, alternative, welcomed

 

 

1. The earliest historical records contain … of capital punishment.

2. English law recognized six major …: treason, murder, larceny, burglary, rape and arson.

3. The usual … to the death penalty is long-term or life imprisonment.

4. The Draconian Code of ancient Greece … capital punishment for every offence.

5. Blacks, whether slave or free, were threatened with death for many crimes that were punished less … when committed by whites.

6. Efforts … the death penalty did not gather momentum until the end of the 18^th century.

7. The abolition of capital punishment in England in November 1965 was … by most people with humane and progressive ideas.

8. People now feel that killing the … is the lesser of two evils.

9. In England a sentence of life imprisonment only … eight or nine years.

 

III. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words:

 

возмездие; долгосрочное тюремное заключение; допрос отмена смертной казни; пожизненное тюремное заключение; приговаривать к смерти; пытка; телесные наказания; меньшее из двух зол; сдерживающее средство

 

IV. Find out whether the statements are true or false.

 

1. Capital punishment is an illegal infliction of the death penalty.

2. By 1800 more than 300 capital crimes were recognized.

3. Blacks, if they were slaves, were threatened with death for many crimes that were punished less severely when committed by whites.

4. The abolition of capital punishment in England in November 1965 was welcomed by most people with humane and progressive ideas.

5. The Bible prescribed death as the penalty for more than 30 different crimes, ranging from murder to fornication.

6. In England, during the reign of William the Conqueror, the death penalty was often used.

7. The abolition of capital punishment in England in November 1965 seemed a departure from feudalism, from the cruel pre-Christian spirit of love.

 

V. Answer the questions:

 

1. What is capital punishment?
2. What is the alternative to the death penalty?
3. Was capital punishment used in ancient times?
4. What offences were recognized as capital crimes in England?
5. Were blacks equal with whites in sentencing?
6. When did efforts to abolish the death penalty gather momentum?
7. How did British people react to the abolition of capital punishment in 1965?
8. Do they welcome the abolition of the death penalty now? Why (not)?