Salem Witch Trials, Red Scare, And Pearl Harbor

Over the course of history, many innocent people have been accused and persecuted for things they haven't done. During certain situations and times, people were used as escape goats. The people accused, usually ended up with the “bad end of the stick”. The Salem Witch Trials, The Red Scare, and Pearl Harbor are all events in history when people were profiled and treated unfairly, and we can learn from these events.
During the Salem Witch Trials, many people were profiled and treated and unfairly. In the town of Salem, the Reverend was Samuel Parris. His niece Abigail daughter Betty were having behavior issues and fell ill. The village doctor, William Griggs diagnosis was that the girls had been bewitched. This started the snowball of the trials.
After the Cold War, the fear that communism would have a domino effect on surrounding countries. This scared Americans deeply. Anyone who had different ideas other than Democracy or anyone who spoke out that had Russian descent were profiled. Some well respected figures such a Joseph McCarthy said there was communists in the U.S. Government which frightened Americans. “Our jobs as Americans and as Republicans is to dislodge the traitors from every place where they’ve been sent to do their traitorous work,” said McCarthy.This caused people to accuse innocent people of communism such as writers like Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller was thought to be communist because he was an advocate against the inequalities of face in america and because his vocal support of labor and the unions. He also wouldn’t tell the courts who told him stories of injustice and kept those friends private. Mr. Miller and many others were profiled because of the fear of communism in America just like when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the Japanese Americans were outcasted by fear, only for their
December 7th, the Japanese surprise attacked the U.S. Navy Base at Pearl Harbor. This brought the U.S. into WW2. The Japanese attacked with 49 bombers, 40 torpedo planes, 51 dive-bombers, and 43 fighter aircrafts. After the first wave (6:00am- 7:55am) there was a second wave of attack until 9:45am. After the bombing, Japanese Americans were profiled for their race and put into camps. Janet Daijogo was born in California and during 5 to 8 years old, her whole family was taken from their home and moved to camp Topaz. She was too little to understand the injustice and still endures cultural confusion. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Americans suspected anyone who was of the Japanese race just because of the way they look. Americans were scared they’d have allegiances with their heritage and home country. Overall, Janet Daijogo and many other Japanese Americans were targeted only because of their heritage and we feared they would try to harm “us” more.
It can be understood that people were targeted and mistreated during the Salem Witch Trials, the Red Scare, and the Pearl Harbor bombing. Fear is what caused these three historical events to escalate out of control. We can learn from these events that it is okay to be scared. People are going to be different from you whether they have a different religion, race, or overall opinions. It is not okay to act upon fear and let it overcome your judgement.