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What Are The Similarities Between Mccarthyism And Salem Witch Trials

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Though centuries apart, the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism are very similar. The Salem witch trials in the 1690s are described in great detail within The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller. Many innocent people are charged with witchcraft and killed if they did not confess. McCarthyism started in the 1950s when Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy started accusing people of being Communists. If people did not cooperate, they could go to jail or be put on a blacklist. In both cases, the accusers use fear to get the innocent people to falsely confess. Also, by accusing so many people of being either witches or Communists, other people begin to actually believe the accused are guilty. Mass hysteria emerges in both the Salem witch trials and …show more content…

For example, when Mary Warren tries to stand up against Abigail and comes close to proving that Abigail was lying, Abigail is able to use the Deputy Governor Danforth’s trust in her to convince him that Mary is the one lying. By making up a story about a yellow bird, and with her friends going along with it, Abigail persuades the judge to believe her. Danforth says to Mary, “Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!” (51). Danforth reminds Mary of his power and threatens to kill her if she does not admit to participating in witchcraft. This scares Mary and leads her to falsely confess to witchcraft in order to save her own life. Similarly, McCarthy uses his position as senator and then his position of chair on the Senate’s committee of investigation to get people to agree with his views and believe his outlandish claims. McCarthy would publish lists of people who are suspected of being Communists. As a result, these people are blacklisted, fired, or possibly even jailed. People oppose both the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism, but they do not publicly confront the problem for fear of what would happen to them. Since no one challenges them, Abigail and McCarthy continue to accuse innocent

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