Compare and Contrast Witch Trials Essay

Witch-Hunts Throughout History

Witch-hunts have been around for more than 200 years, most commonly the Salem Witch Trials are thought of. However, witch-hunts are still prevalent to this day. Throughout history many infamous witch-hunts have occurred. As seen in The Crucible the children convince the community of Salem that there were witches among them. Throughout the play there are many innocent people falsely accused and found guilty due to people’s superstitions about witchery. Roughly 200 people were accused and 20 hanged in the community of Salem, Massachusetts; however, this is not the only wrongful witch-hunt in history. Infamous witch-hunts consist of the Bakersfield trials, the McCarthy Era, the Holocaust, and the modern day witch-hunts in India are all related through mass hysteria, injustice, and deception.

The Salem witch trials began in 1692 when a group of girls including Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, Betty Parris, and so on were found in the woods dancing by Reverend Parris. Further on, the situation began to spin out of control and led many witch accusations with their spectral evidence. While hysteria was growing, the accused count grew as well. The girls began accusing highly thought of and well respected people and their credibility was questioned. By the end of the trials, 19 had been hanged and over 200 accused. We have certainly learned somewhat from our mistakes, but witch-hunts are still prevalent to this day.

        In the 1950’s the McCarthy Era began. This disreputable time period is known for John McCarthy falsely suspecting communist infiltration in the military, and government. Despite the numerous times McCarthy’s movement was debunked he still went on with this belief. The term McCarthyism means to accuse without evidence, thus the paralleling with the Salem trials. Hysteria was relevant in both time periods, and no proper evidence was given in either witch-hunt or leeway of the accused being innocent. The McCarthy era was epitomized by the fear of Communism that Senator McCarthy whipped up.

        Roughly around the same time as the McCarthy Era; the Holocaust was prevailing mid-1900s. The Holocaust is a prime example of all three parallels: deception, hysteria, and injustice. During this time period the Nazi party had risen to power in Germany and began persecuting Jewish people. Hitler had incorrectly led Germans to believe that Jews were responsible for their economic ruin. Jews were then discriminated and dehumanized. As the racism in Germany grew, Jews were sent to work camps, or death camps. This unmerited time period was the effect of deception, mass hysteria, and unfortunately injustice. The links between the Salem witch-hunts and the Holocaust is very clear, both tragic event’s goal was to “purify” society and get rid of anyone who didn’t fit into their community.