The End of Public Execution

What were public executions in the industrial period?

They were a form of capital punishment which regular citizens could attend. They were used to deter people from breaking the law and defying authority.

When did public executions end in the industrial period?

The last public execution was in 1868.

What were public executions like in the industrial period?

Public executions in the industrial period had 4 important characteristics.

• ❖ By the 19th century, public executions had a festival atmosphere.
• ❖ They attracted huge crowds of people.
• ❖ They featured stalls, drinking and souvenir sales.
• ❖ They were seen as a form of entertainment, rather than a solemn and educational event.

Why did public executions end in the industrial period?

There were 6 key reasons why public executions ended:

• ❖ During the 19th century, the authorities became increasingly concerned about public executions.
• ❖ Factory owners resented having to give their workers the day off to attend executions.
• ❖ The crowds at executions might engage in drinking and prostitution, which could lead to further crime.
• ❖ The public viewed the executions as a party, rather than finding them a deterrent to committing crime.
• ❖ Several high-profile writers, including Charles Dickens, wrote scathing accounts of debauchery among the crowds.
• ❖ Large crowds were a possible threat to public order, especially if they sympathised with the criminal and disagreed with their sentence.