Question: what were two cruel and unusual punishments at the time the amendment was written?
Answer: In Robinson v. California, 370 U.S. 660 (1962), the Court further said "historic punishments that were cruel and unusual included "burning at the stake, crucifixion, breaking on the wheel" (In re Kemmler, 136 U. S. 436, 136 U. S. 446), quartering, the rack and thumbscrew (see Chambers v.