Salem Witchcraft Trials: Mass Hysteria

Historical Hysterias The Salem Witchcraft trials are notoriously known in history for its mass hysteria and paranoia within colonial Massachusetts during the 17th century. This paper will identify social and religious factors contributing to the Salem with-hunt, provide insight to who was behind it and why, and compare and contrast other examples of mass hysteria with that of the Salem witch-hunt. In colonial Massachusetts, the Puritan religion touched every aspect of line in the community. The lifestyle was strict and anything that went outside the moral code was considered a sin and the sinner would be punished. Residents were also expected to attend lengthy sermons twice a week and to avoid any activities viewed as sinful. This included
They would scream, seizure, and make strange sounds. A local doctor stated that they were under the influence of witchcraft. The girls then blamed three women for enchanting them including: Tituba, Parris’ house slave; Sarah Good, a homeless begger; and Sarah Osborne, a poor elderly women. On March 1, 1692, all three women were brought to trial and interrogated. Osborne and Good claimed innocent but Tituba confessed to singing the devils book and even proceeded to name other females she claimed to have seen writing down in the same book. After the first trials, a snowball effect took place and everyone began pointing fingers at one another out of fear, jealousy, or just plain
During what was known as the Red Scare when the senator claim to possess a list of 205 State Department employees who were known Communist moles. This was after World War II when Russia was rising to power and the fear of communist was fresh in very American. Instead of giving his alleged list to the FBI for investigation, McCarthy chose to hold Congressional hearing to investigate the claims personally. A panic spread throughout America just like in the Salem Witch Trails. Everyone quickly began to suspect his or her family and friends as hidden communist, with little to no evidence. Although there were no deaths, many were blacklisted until it had been clear that the list was fraud. This is just another example how mass hysteria can steer a community out of