The Shadow of the Gallows: The History of Capital Punishment in America

This program examines the complex history of capital punishment in the United States with particular attention to Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic.  The program begins by examining the era of public executions when the sheriff was the county executioner. From there, it transitions to the modern era, highlighting key reforms as the nation debated the abolition of the death penalty and sought more humane methods of execution.  Throughout the presentation, it analyzes shifting historical, cultural, legal, and ethical factors that influenced the nation’s approach to capital punishment.