In 1847, Michigan became the first state to abolish this, and since that time, less than half the states have followed. What is it?

Michigan holds the distinction of being the first state in the United States to outlaw the death penalty for all crimes except treason, a measure it took in 1847. This pioneering decision positioned Michigan at the forefront of a movement that, even today, has not been fully embraced by the majority of American states. At the time, capital punishment was a common practice across the globe, often carried out publicly.

The push for abolition in Michigan was driven by a combination of factors, including the influence of Enlightenment thinkers who questioned the state's right to take a life, and a growing public unease with the spectacle of executions. Reformers argued against the irreversible nature of capital punishment and the possibility of executing an innocent person. While the state retained the option for treason, this exception has never actually been invoked, effectively making Michigan a fully abolitionist state from that point onward.

Despite Michigan's early leadership, the journey toward nationwide abolition has been a slow and contentious one. Over 175 years later, fewer than half of U.S. states have followed suit, with many still maintaining capital punishment on their books, even if its use has declined in recent decades. The debate over its morality, efficacy as a deterrent, and fairness continues to be a prominent issue in American jurisprudence and public discourse.