Question

Why do you think the penitentiary first caught on in pennsylvania and new york? how would you explain the increase in the number of penitentiaries throughout the united states after eastern state penitentiary and auburn prison began operating?

Answer 1

The penitentiary system caught on in Pennsylvania and New York due to reformist beliefs in the moral redemption of criminals. The incarceration rate surged in the U.S. due to the 'war on drugs', law and order politics, and economic incentives of private prisons. Racial inequities and expansion of lobbying for prison industries also contributed significantly to the increasing number of penitentiaries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The penitentiary system first gained traction in Pennsylvania and New York due to reform movements that sought to transform criminals into law-abiding citizens through hard work, religious instruction, and isolation. The Eastern State Penitentiary and Auburn Prison were amongst the first to operate under this philosophy. This approach to the criminal justice system was based on the belief that individuals could be morally redeemed and reformed, marking a shift from punitive measures like public whippings and executions to rehabilitative ones.

The significant increase in the number of penitentiaries throughout the United States was influenced by the cultural politics and an evolving perspective on how to manage crime and social deviance. In the 1970s, the 'war on drugs' and a cultural backlash against permissiveness led to 'law and order' politics, which fueled the prison populations. Furthermore, the election system for judicial, law enforcement, and prosecutorial roles in the U.S. meant that candidates often campaigned on being 'tough on crime', further emphasizing incarceration over other forms of intervention.

The rapid growth of prison populations was exacerbated by racial inequities and the economic incentives provided by the emergence of private prisons. Federal statistics indicated that the prison population expanded from 200,000 inmates in 1970 to 2.2 million four decades later, with many incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses. This expansion was not merely the result of better law enforcement but was also significantly influenced by factors like race, poverty, and the lobbying power of the prison industry.

Answer 2

Considering that the original 13 colonies were founded in the eastern seaboard of the country and that until the post WWII period the major population centers shifted from the East to the West of the country it is only natural and logical. Indeed, the eastern seaboard was the most industrialized and populated area of the USA for a long time and most immigrants entered the country through New York. Pennsylvania was also heavily industrialized and a major mining area.

With more immigrants pouring in every year, the potential for more criminal acts increased and to keep up, more prisons were necessary. There is also the huge factor of labor rights activism, which was criminalized by employers and judges in order to keep workers docile and submissive. Many strikers and labor unions were incarcerated as well and more prisons were needed for that purpose.