Similarities Between Salem Witch Trials And Mccarthyism

Layton Creasey
English 11
Mrs. Becky Mitchell
October 18, 2016 How Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism

In this Process essay the reader will learn how the Salem Witch Trials are like McCarthyism. The reason they are similar is because both have mob mentality. The Salem Witch Trials started in 1690s when the Trials began. Over 200 people accused of witchcraft. The people who had a strong belief of the devil and were very religious. The outside threats that were surrounding the people of Salem had created a fear and suspicion within the town. Then eventually the people in Salem realized their mistakes.
McCarthyism arose in the 1950s. It originally intended to criticize the anti-communist views of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy. People

Then they are seen dancing and chanting to Tituba performing voodoo over the fire in attempt to kill Elizabeth Proctor. She was asked to cast this charm by Abigail. Then Reverend Parris' daughter, Elizabeth, and niece, Abigail Williams, began having "fits." A local doctor blamed the supernatural. Then more and more girls started having similar episodes. Later on under pressure from judges the girls blamed other women that they did not like for afflicting them. Many people claimed that the devil was out to get the Puritans. The Puritan villagers believed all the argument was the work of the Devil. Accusations continued for months until innocent people began to get hanged. Eventually one minister suggested the logical idea that the court should stop taking spectral evidence. The court ignored this request and continued to hang people of the Puritan village. Later on witchcraft was taken down by a new Governor and apologies were given to affected

Arthur Miller wrote a play in 1953 called "The Crucible" and brought the situation to the public's eye once more. He used the trials as an allegory for the McCarthyism paranoia in the 1950s. It occurred throughout America during the 1950s. McCarthy was a government official who accused the Democratic party and the US army Joseph McCarthy wanted to be respected as the leader with the Republican party as followers He used suspicions to promote his campaign and the fear of communism to keep it alive. The media was afraid to stand up to McCarthy because media members feared they would be considered communists. Then in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692 Caused by the idea that witches existed Witches were thought to be "taking over the town and destroying souls" Townspeople feared standing up against witchcraft and refused to go into the forest because that's where they believed it happened. Accusations were created for revenge and many people were accused because their neighbors wanted their land. Abigail started accusations because she wanted John as her husband. She decided to seek revenge against Elizabeth. Then McCarthy suspected many people of being communists. He had the suspected communists blacklisted. He mostly accused famous people and urged people that the individuals who should be feared were the communists. People also feared the Soviet Union during this time period Many people were accused of trying to