Auburn vs. Eastern State: Early American Prison Systems
This paper compares two influential early American prison systems that emerged in the 1800s: Pennsylvania's Eastern State Penitentiary and New York's Auburn State Prison. Eastern State, shaped by Quaker philosophy, isolated inmates completely in individual cells to encourage spiritual reflection and penitence. Auburn, by contrast, kept inmates silent but allowed shared work and dining areas, prioritizing practicality and economic efficiency. The paper examines how each system approached inmate reform, the physical design requirements each philosophy imposed, and why the Auburn model ultimately became the foundation for the American correctional system — largely due to its lower cost, efficient use of space, and productive inmate labor.
- Introduction: Origins of American Prison Reform: Context for 1800s U.S. prison reform movement
- The Pennsylvania System: Eastern State Penitentiary: Quaker-influenced isolation and penitence model
- The New York System: Auburn State Prison: Practical silent-labor alternative to full isolation
- Comparing the Two Systems: Cell design, space use, and daily routine contrasted
- Why the Auburn Model Prevailed: Economic and humanitarian reasons Auburn won out
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper uses a clear point-by-point comparison structure, examining both systems across the same evaluative criteria — philosophy, physical design, inmate daily life, and economic viability.
- It grounds abstract ideological differences (Quaker penitence vs. New York pragmatism) in concrete physical consequences, such as cell size and the use of hoods when moving inmates.
- The conclusion is well-supported: rather than simply asserting Auburn's superiority, the paper identifies two specific factors — humanitarianism and cost — that drove the Pennsylvania system's decline.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates comparative analysis within a historical context. It identifies a common goal shared by both systems (inmate reformation) and then methodically traces how divergent philosophies produced different designs, daily routines, and economic outcomes. This technique — isolating a shared variable while contrasting methods — is a strong model for any comparative essay.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with historical context establishing why prison reform emerged in the early 1800s. It then describes each system individually before moving into direct comparison of cell design, prisoner movement, and labor. The final section explains the economic and humanitarian reasons the Auburn model was adopted nationally. Three sources from prison history archives are cited throughout.
Introduction: Origins of American Prison Reform
In the early 1800s, the United States became the focus of prison reform when both New York and Pennsylvania introduced new systems of incarceration. Prior to this time, prisons were "used largely for persons awaiting trial and other punishments and for debtors" (Johnston). With the advent of these new systems, however, a whole new era emerged in prison design, purpose, and administration. Pennsylvania, the traditional home of the Quakers, had abolished the death penalty for all crimes except murder, which led to the need for an alternative sentence. Long confinement became the obvious choice, and the state embarked on building an institution that reflected Quaker philosophy. The first of these "penitentiaries" to be constructed was Eastern State Penitentiary. New York, meanwhile, also needed to house prisoners for long-term confinement but took a more practical approach, basing its designs on efficiency rather than ideology. In the end, it was the New York system — represented by Auburn State Prison — that became the foundation of America's correctional system.
References
Johnston, Norman. (2011). "Prison Reform in Pennsylvania." The Pennsylvania Prison Society. Retrieved from
"History of Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia." Eastern State Penitentiary Homepage. Retrieved from
"The Evolution of the New York Prison System [Part I]." Retrieved from
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