Massachusetts was the location of the Salem Witchcraft hysteria from 1692 to 1693, stemming from uncompromising moral codes and religious beliefs. However, despite problems experienced in farming due to the harsh climate and rugged terrain; Salem also faced political and economic upheavals within the community, during this time. The hysteria commenced when an Indian slave named Tituba was accused of witchcraft by 3 young girls (Roach, 2002). Eventually, under an intense flailing, Tituba was forced to confess of witchcraft to a court official. Tituba's confession ignited a series of witchcraft manhunts leading to women and men being hanged, one man crushed to death by heavy rocks, and 150 more men were held in prison awaiting trail .
SALEM WITCH HUNTS VS MCCARTHYISM The Salem Witch Hunts that occurred in 1692 had many similarities to the Red Scare known as McCarthyism that occurred in 1950’s. The Salem Witch trials began after one girl Abigail Williams along with her friends spread rumors of witchcraft. This caused panic and major disorder in the town of Salem. The Red Scare began after Senator Joseph McCarthy began accusing Americans of being communist, this caused chaos and hysteria across the United States. While these two events were decades apart they had many similarities.
She is cast roughly aside, hits her head and passes out. In the meantime, Anys Gowdie, having heard news of what is happening, rushed to Mern’s aid. The crowd turns on Anys accusing her, in her turn, of being a witch and having consorted with George Vicars, now regarded as a male witch and an instrument of the devil. It is because Anna has betrayed Anys’ secret that they are privy to her connection with Viccars. Although Anna plans to run to Mompellion for help, she is struck to the ground and is powerless to stop the mob hanging Anys.
The Salem Witch Trials were a result of mass hysteria fueled by the accusations of Abigail Williams and her friends. During the Salem Witch Trials those suspected of witchcraft were jailed and given a trial. During the trial the accused was dogged for a confession and even names of other wishes. The incentive was if they confessed, God would forgive them and they could live, but of course no one was really a witch so most plead innocent and were hung anyways, simply because of a suspicion. The whole event of the Salem Witch Trials is viewed as unjust because after the accusations spread, many townspeople simply accused their neighbors of being a witch to gain revenge, money, land, or something similar.
Wrong their neighbor? Was someone seeking revenge? Or were they just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In 1692, there were wrongful hangings of people because their community lied and their neighbors were seeking revenge against them. During the Salem witch trials, 20 people died because of the public crying “witch” on them.
Dayana Barrientos November 6, 2011 7 The unsupported lies manage to create hysteria among themselves, with many people attempting to search them out to expose or join them. Majority of the Puritans worshiped their religion. The Puritans accepted the interpretations of John Calvin on the nature of man, free will and predestination, and other basic concepts. Witches and the Devil were feared by the townspeople. Supposedly, the Devil walked on earth and tempted the townspeople to write their name with blood in a black book.
Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” depicts the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, in these trials women were accused of being witches; they were sentenced to death, tortured, and their reputation would be forever tarnished. During this revival of religion era faith was central to the government of Salem. Miller makes references to how the events leading up to the trails were unjust, bias and resulted in harsh punishment. The McCarthy hearings were trials in which Senator Joe McCarthy accused government employees of being Communists. (Sowers, Campbell, and Key) He exaggerated and exploited the evidence and ruined many reputations.
What Caused the SWT’s? The Salem Witch Trials were a time of widespread terror throughout the colony of Salem. At this time during 1691 hundreds were accused of being witches and were put to trial. Over twenty people were sentenced to death because of the vast amount of accusations. The witch-hunt ended in the autumn of 1692, but the destruction had already been done.
These are all questions running through people’s heads; but in reality, can we really know for sure? What started out as three young girls dancing in the woods turned into an unusual phenomenon that spread throughout an entire village. If witches were really the culprits to all of this, then why has it happened only once? These three girls started having seizers and were getting sick with no explanation; so we are just supposed to believe that witches had to be behind it because they claimed to see the devil and his accomplices. The whole world went to hell because people followed one man who said Jews were the root of all evil and were not meant to exist.
Sean McDermott Mrs. Scuilli English 11 14 October 2011 The Power of Women in The Crucible In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, he shows what had happen in the colonial Massachusetts what was happening again during his time and the time of the Red scare. During the play Miller uses the role of women and their struggle to gain and fall from power affects everyone around them. In The Crucible, the female character, were very powerless, but when the events of the witch trials allow them to come into power on the theocracy, and their power has very negative effects on everyone in Salem. Abigail Williams, the most important witness of the Salem witch trials, gains power through abusing the emotions of the other girls in the town. Miller