18th Century (1700-1799) 1702 British author Daniel Defoe was pilloried, fined and imprisoned for fourteen months for writing a satirical religious tract, The Shortest Way with Dissenters. The tract recommended executing nonconformists in order to frighten others. "Several prominent Anglican churchmen took the proposal seriously and endorsed the policy." [Engh, 229] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1720's English writer […]