Execution - GCSE History Definition

In GCSE History, execution means when someone is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. It was often used to punish people for serious crimes like murder, treason, or heresy, and was meant to deter others from breaking the law. Executions were public events for many centuries and were used to show the power of the ruler and scare people into obeying the law. Important examples include the execution of Anne Boleyn in 1536 by Henry VIII, accused of adultery and treason; the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587 by Elizabeth I, for plotting against her; and the execution of Charles I in 1649 after the English Civil War, for going against Parliament and being seen as a “tyrant.” Studying executions helps students understand how rulers used fear, punishment, and public display to control society and deal with threats to their power.