In the 18th century, hundreds had been executed each year, often for quite trivial crimes, but by the 19th century only 55 people were being hanged each year, while as many as 500 were needed.
The shift from the 18th to the 19th century saw a significant decrease in the number of executions, with hundreds being put to death for minor crimes in the past but only 55 per year by the late 1800s, highlighting a change in societal attitudes towards punishment.