1608: The first execution in the American colonies.
1612: Several colonies approved executions as punishment for crimes ranging from murder to theft.
1792: Pennsylvania legislature restricted Capital Punishment for first degree murder.
1846: Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty.
1849: 15 states had passed laws providing for private executions.
1852: Rhode Island abolished the death penalty.
1853: Wisconsin abolished the death penalty.
1888: Electrocution was adopted by New York.
1924: Nevada began using cyanide gas.
1972: The abolitionist movement took its case to the federal court system, claiming that the government was unable to provide for fair implementation of capital punishment.
1975: 30 states had reinstated the death penalty.
1976: In the case of Gregg vs. Georgia, the U.S. Supreme court reinstated the death penalty within the text of non-discriminatory sentencing.
1970's: Starting using lethal injections as an attempt to reduce the cost of executions.