Parallels+to+the+Salem+Witch+Trials-1

Grace Parallels- Both the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy trials were times of great unrest, when people totally lost their heads in fear.

In the United States during the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that people in the government were either involved with Communists or were Communists themselves. He continued the spread of lies and accusing people of Communist ideals. He did this to distract from his own faults. During the 1690s, teenage girls in Salem Village or surrounding towns accused civilians of witchcraft and devil worship for their own selfish gains or for some excitement.

First of all, in both cases, innocent people were accused of crimes they did not commit. There was little or no valid evidence presented at the trials, and the defendants were given little chance to defend themselves. The only way they could redeem themselves (and, in the case of the Salem Witch Trials, save their lives) was to name other perpetrators. But since the accused never had been guilty of Communism – or witchcraft- to begin with, of course they didn’t know any other communists or witches. Many refused to name others, and their lives were ruined. Some did give a false list of names to save themselves, but then that would only be more innocent people accused for no reason.

During both the Red Scare and the Salem Witch Trials, neighbor turned against neighbor to save themselves. People pointed the finger of blame at somebody else so that they wouldn’t get thrown in jail. Both events occurred during times of tension. All the unrest was brought around by feelings of fear and mistrust; fear of the devil in the 1690s, and fear of the “Reds” in the 1950s. People were terrified of the Communists and the Devil Worshipers, and because of this fear, they believed the lies told by McCarthy and the girls.

Extra Focus: Many performers, writers, agents, directors, (etc.) were blacklisted and accused of Communist connections. Any movie or TV show that someone on the blacklist had worked on could be rejected by the government. To avoid this, studios checked that all its workers weren't on the blacklist. So plenty of blacklisted performers went without work. Even if you could redeem yourself (once again, by blaming other suspects) your social standing would have plummeted and you might not find work anyway. So McCarthy ruined many careers that might have been great.

Lillian Hellman, a playwright, was accused of Communist connections because her boyfriend had been a Communist. Hellman refused to testify against any other suspects and was blacklisted. Her play //The Children's Hour// is a metaphor to the McCarthy trials. The play was about a spoiled student who wrongly and with no proof accuses two of her teachers of homosexuality, ruining the teachers' lives.

Importance of Topic: The Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy Trials during the Red Scare is a prime example of history repeating itself. It is an example of how power and arrogance can corrupt, and how fear can totally drive a nation apart. It is also a lesson. We must watch who rises to a position of power, and we must see through ridiculous lies and accusations. If we are careful, then maybe another shameful event such as these will never happen again........ a third time.

This is the grave of Wilmot Redd.The tombstone says, "...an innocent victim of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Hung on September 22, 1692." Lillian Hellman Sources- __Books__
 * Images**:
 * · Zeinert, Karen. __McCarthy and the Fear of Communism in American History__ Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. 1998

__Internet Sources__
 * "The McCarthy Hearings, 1950." DISCovering U.S. History. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Cook Memorial Public Library. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T0http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T0http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T0
 * · Taylor, Thomas T. "The Salem Witch Trials (1600-1754)." American Eras. Ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli and Richard Layman. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Cook Memorial Public Library. 5 Feb. 2007 <[|http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-1&docId=EJ2301500838&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=ccscm&version=1.0>.]
 * · Unknown Author. “The Salem Witchcraft Trials” Last Updated April 1, 2006 by Cave, Karen. Viewed 7 Feb. 2006[|www.lake-lehman.k12.pa.us/sr/Salem_Witch_Trials/Salem_Witchcraft_Trials.html]www.lake-lehman.k12.pa.us/sr/Salem_Witch_Trials/Salem_Witchcraft_Trials.html
 * Unknown Author."Lillian Hellman" [|www.eclipsetheater.com/season/2000]
 * Author Unknown. "Lillian Hellman" [|www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Hellman] Viewed 13, Feb. 2007
 * Grave picture- Unknown Author. "Victims of the Trials" Last Updated April 1, 2006 by Cave, Karen. Viewed 13 Feb. 2006 [|www.lake-lehman.k12.pa.us/sr/Salem_Witch_Trials/Victims_of_the_Trials.html]
 * Lillian Hellman picture- Unknown Author."Lillian Hellman" [|www.eclipsetheater.com/season/2000]
 * Lillian Hellman picture- Unknown Author."Lillian Hellman" [|www.eclipsetheater.com/season/2000]