In colonial America in the 1600s, European settlers were the first to introduce the death penalty to the United States. As there were no prisons at that time, the death penalty became a common punishment for crimes. During the 1700s, Thomas Jefferson proposed changing the punitive laws in Virginia. Defeated by a single vote, the bill proposed that the death penalty be authorized only for the offenses of treason and murder (History). At that time, capital punishment was the primary source of execution for criminals and others accused of their wrongs. However, the advent of the 21st century has gradually made capital punishment more obsolete. Many people may argue that the death penalty is an immoral and unconstitutional way to punish criminals, but in fact, I say that the death penalty is a fair way to get rid of worthless people in America. Although the idea of ​​the death penalty may seem irrational to some, for others the act of execution is necessary and indispensable. In the 1600s and 1700s, the death penalty was very popular, but as the country's constitution and other laws were created, the law's creators began to slowly remove executions as an act of punishment. Argued in numerous court cases and debated over the years, the death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is still highly controversial in all 50 states. While 18 states have eliminated the death penalty, 32 still believe in the death penalty and use it as the ultimate punishment (States). Many disagree with banning the death penalty in some states because they believe that, as Thomas Jefferson proposed, it should be legal in circumstances of treason or murder. The different punishments include lethal injection, which is a middle of paper, while I firmly believe that the death penalty helps deter crime, bring closure to families, and give what is deserved. Works Cited Dobbs, Greg. “State inmates convicted of murder deserve their fate.” Denver Post. March 17, 2013: D.4 Researchers on SIRS issues. Internet. April 29, 2014. ProQuest Staff. “At issue: the death penalty/capital punishment” ProQuest LLC. 2014. N. pag. Researcher on SIRS issues. Internet. April 24, 2014. Stewart, Gail B. “The Death Penalty” San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998. Print. April 28, 2014. Gregg, Zoraya. “States Engage in Questionable Deals as Death Penalty Drugs Shrink.” The United States Today. March 10, 2014. A.1 SIRS Issues Researcher. Internet. April 24, 2014. “States with and without the death penalty.” » DPIC. Internet. May 5, 2014. “Furman v. Georgia.” Furman vs. Georgia. Internet. May 6, 2014 “Part I: History of the death penalty”. DPIC. Internet. May 5 2014.