Michigan Arts & Culture

How Michigan became the first English-speaking government to abolish the death penalty

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published May 16, 2018 at 4:06 PM EDT

Michigan became the first English-speaking government in the world to abolish the death penalty on May 18, 1846.

Stateside’s conversation with Mark Harvey, State Archivist with the Michigan History Center and Federal Judge Avern Cohn about the history of capital punishment in Michigan.

This Friday marks the 172nd anniversary of a uniquely Michigan milestone. On May 18, 1846, Michigan became the first English-speaking government in the world to vote and pass a measure to abolish the death penalty.

Mark Harvey, State Archivist with the Michigan History Center, joined Stateside to talk about Michigan’s progressive past. Judge Avern Cohn, the Senior United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, also joined the conversation.

Listen above to hear about how Michigan came to abolish the death penalty 172 years ago, and how, despite a few desperate attempts, Michiganders never felt comfortable reviving the policy.This segment is produced in partnership with theMichigan History Center.

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