What Is Bridget Bishop Like In A 1950's America?

The United States has a bad habit of praising the highly accomplished and forgetting those that never had the chance to reach the same spotlight. In the Chicago Fire of 1871, the women who perished do not have their names widely remembered. Decent athletes who played mediocre games will not have books written about them. There are others who are only remembered by how they were falsely accused and executed. In the Salem Witch Trials, around 20 people’s lives were cut short thanks to mass hysteria. What would have happened if at least one victim was in the right place, but not at the wrong time? Imagine that person being Bridget Bishop, the first woman to be hanged, in 1950’s America.

For her time, Bridget Bishop was a scandalous woman. She had married three different men (not at the same time) and worked at a local tavern. She dressed in mostly black clothing, was a prominent gossip in the town, and drank when she would host gatherings. These activities were considered morally wrong, but it was even worse for a woman to be doing it. Ultimately, Bishop’s wild lifestyle is what sentenced her to death. However, a 1950’s America would not have been so harsh to her. In fact, she would have thrived.

World War II ended less than a decade before, but the United States economy was still prospering from their war effort. Materialism was a beloved, growing ideology that she took part of. Bishop owned a car, as it would get her to parties faster, and a radio to bring entertainment into her own home.With the money, her next luxury on the list would be a television, similar to the radio.Desiring to always be the center of attention, Bishop would use the technology of the time period to flaunt during gatherings and confirm her high status. Her house became responsible for bringing friends and family together to have a good