the penal system in the united states developed under two separate systems known as the auburn system and pennsylvania system. the current system of solitary confinement was derived originally from the pennsylvania model which was characterized by "isolation and seclusion." evidence has shown that quakers and calvinists supported solitary confinement as an alternative form of punishment. at the time it was meant to provide a prisoner with solitude “to reflect on his misdeeds” and restore his relationship with god. solitary confinement was intended as an alternative to public floggings which were common at the time. in 1818, new york reformer and friend, thomas eddy, lobbied for inmate labor and solitary confinement in place of other forms of punishment such as hanging. shortly after, new york decided to include solitary confinement and inmate labor into their penal system.