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Support The Death Penalty

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INTRODUCTION The origins of the death penalty date back to the eighteenth century B.C. and the abolitionist movement began during the Enlightenment Period with Voltaire and Montesquieu. While in some parts of the world capital punishment has been abolished completely, it is still a somewhat common practice in most of the United States. Throughout the 20th century, support for the death penalty fell drastically. According to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), there were 1,289 executions in the 1940s, 715 in the 1950s, and only 191 between 1960 and 1976. The use of surveys has helped political scientists study the views that Americans have or have had in the past on issues such as the death penalty and various other means of punishment …show more content…

Additionally, factors such as a fear of violent crime or the desire to lower crime rates also play a role in supporting the death penalty (Tyler 22). The following research will explore the relationships between age and support for the death penalty and if any other factors such as level of education, race, or gender result in greater support for capital …show more content…

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, men are more likely to be conservative, which would make them more likely to support the death penalty compared to women, because women tend to be more democratic. If it is true that people who fear violent crime or wish to prevent violent crimes strongly support the death penalty, then it seems more likely that women would favor capital punishment. Strictly based on partisanship, however, men are more likely to support executions. People with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to support the death penalty. A case study of Harris County Texas by S. Phillips revealed that a defendant who killed someone with a higher socioeconomic status and a college degree was more likely given a death sentence than a criminal who killed lines, most criminals on death row at the time of this case study (ca. 1992-1999) had lower socioeconomic statuses (DPIC). This same case study found that race had a similar pattern. White people are more likely to support capital punishment, while African Americans are more likely to oppose it. Education is also a factor involved in whether or not an individual supports the death penalty. People with a bachelor’s degree or lower are more likely to support executions, while people with a Master’s degree or higher are more likely to oppose it.

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