The Guillotine

The Guillotine came about in the late 1789 and was developed by Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin. 

Dr. Guillotin proposed to the French Government that the ways of execution were too gruesome. He explained how he had formed a method in which to decapitate criminals and proposed that it be adopted as the "nicer way" to execute them.

Before the Guillotine, horrible methods were used to execute those sentenced to death. They were taken to a dungeon or to the public to be decapitated by an axe or something with a sharp blade, as a very ghastly, slow, painful and often inefficient way to execute someone, thus the introduction of the Guillotine.

FACTS 

• The Guillotine was commonly used in a rich family's household. It was often used as a toy for children who would frequently decapitate dolls, or even rats and mice. The toy was taken away from children later on as it was said to have a negative influence on them.

• It was also used as a way of cutting bread or vegetables, seen as an easier and more "enthralling" alternative.

• When a French citizen was sentenced to death, the accused person would be taken to the middle of the kingdom in front of all of the public to be decapitated. Family's brought their children with them to witness the death as the execution's were classed as major spectating event.