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Capital Punishment in the United States A Documentary History
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Bryan Vila, Cynthia Morris
Book Code: GR9942
ISBN: 0-313-29942-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-29942-1
384 pages, glossary
Greenwood Press
Publication: 8/30/1997
List Price: $76.95 (UK Sterling Price: £44.95)
Availability: Print on demand
Media Type: Hardcover
Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
Subjects: Reviews:
  • Vila and Morris have created a highly readable and very timely compilation of some of the most important writings on capital punishment in the last 400 years. The debate will continue, and any criminal justice professional tasked with enforcing the laws of this country would be well-served to add this anthology to his or her professional library. Its insights and arguments are invaluable no matter which side one takes in the capital punishment debate.
    —Corrections Today
  • The volume provides an excellent overview of the debate on capital punishment and may well meet the documents needs of the general public and high school and college students, while providing a good starting place for more advanced researchers. This book is highly recommended for public, academic, and special libraries.
    —American Reference Books Annual
Description: Both sides of the highly charged capital punishment debate in the United States are examined in this breakthrough collection of 112 key documents, arranged by historical period. The political and social aspects of the debate are represented through a wide range of documents, including congressional hearings, Supreme Court decisions, position papers, biographical accounts, and news stories. An explanatory introduction precedes each document to help readers understand how various and seemingly unrelated social, economic, and political factors have impacted public attitudes, legislation, and judicial decisions pertaining to capital punishment. Vila and Morris provide us with the historical and ecological framework in which this centuries-old debate has unfolded. This volume is organized into six parts, each one representing a different time period: Colonial Era to Independence, 1800-1917, 1918-1959, 1960-1976, 1977-1989, and the 1990s. The documents provided in each part trace the history and development of the debate, chronicling the ebb and flow of support for the death penalty during different periods in our country's history. Special attention is paid to the effects of particular events in history--the American Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Civil Rights movement, for example--on the ever-changing opinions concerning capital punishment. The representation of both sides of the debate found in these documents will encourage and challenge students, policymakers, and concerned citizens to examine their own viewpoints and draw their own conclusions on the capital punishment debate.
Table of Contents:
  • Series Foreword
  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • Significant Dates in the History of Capital Punishment
  • Early Views on Capital Punishment: Colonial Era to Independence
  • The Abolition Movement Gains Ground, 1800-1917
  • War and Economic Depression Overshadow Capital Punishment, 1918-1959
  • Capital Punishment in the Courts, 1960-1976
  • The Debate Begins Anew, 1977-1989
  • The Death Penalty in the 1990s: Contemporary Issues
  • Glossary
  • Appendix A: Federal and State Capital Offenses in the United States
  • Appendix B: U.S. Executions: Colonial Times to 1995
  • Appendix C: Selected U.S. Supreme Court Cases
  • Appendix D: Capital Punishment Interest Groups and Related Organizations
  • Select Bibliography
  • Index
LC Card Number: 96-51137
LCC Class: HV8699
Dewey Class: 364
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