Which landmark case highlighted issues surrounding the death penalty in the 1970s?

The landmark case that highlighted issues surrounding the death penalty in the 1970s is Furman v. Georgia. This case was significant because it addressed the constitutionality of the death penalty as it was applied at the time. The Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty, as it was being implemented, constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. This ruling effectively put a moratorium on capital punishment across the United States by determining that the arbitrary and inconsistent application of the death penalty was unconstitutional.

Furman v. Georgia prompted states to re-evaluate their death penalty statutes to ensure they provided clear guidelines and procedures, with an aim to eliminate the discrimination and unpredictability that had characterized its application. This case fundamentally shifted the landscape of capital punishment in America, leading to changes in how states approached and legislated the death penalty.

In contrast, the other cases, while pivotal in their own rights, do not deal directly with the death penalty. Roe v. Wade focused on women's reproductive rights; Brown v. Board of Education addressed racial segregation in public schools; and Miranda v. Arizona dealt with the rights of individuals in police custody and interrogation practices. Each of these cases contributed significantly to American law, but Furman v. Georgia is