Everyone wants to believe that they have the power to change the world, but how many of those people are willing enough to change themselves for the betterment of those around them in their communities? Too many times have men and women stood by and watched their neighbors fall to the vicious clutches of leaders with agendas, as much today as in 1692. The Salem Witch Trials can, in many ways, be compared to the Scottsboro Boys’ trials of the early 1930’s in that both scenarios relied on the false accusations and execution of innocents, simply by consequence of immoral and deceitful people. The Salem Witch trials was a period of hysteria fueled by tensions created by mistrust and resentment between neighbors, as well as recent events such …show more content…
On March 25, 1931, a group of nine black teenagers, ranging from ages 12 to 20, were on a train from Chattanooga to Memphis.2 At the height of the depression, it was typical for young men to hop aboard local railways, moving from one fruitless job to another. During this particular train ride, one white teen had stepped on one of the black teens, Haywood Patterson’s, hands and began a stone throwing fight, which quickly escalated to one between the nine blacks and a group of young white men.2 The group of nine successfully managed to throw all but one of their attackers from the train before it had reached a life endangering speed, at which point those men had alerted the local station master.2 The station called to have the train stopped and the boys arrived to a lynch mob in the town of Scottsboro, Alabama.2 Local authorities and state police held the crowd back and escorted the boys to the local jailhouse to await questioning and certain imprisonment.2 Also arriving to Scottsboro were two women, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates, one of which gave testament to which she claimed the two had been raped by a group of twelve black men with pistols and knives.2 While in the jail, Price identified six of the nine boys as the ones who had attacked her.2 The guard on duty had reportedly replied, “If those six had Miss …show more content…
The first is a herd complex. Men and women refuse to look at any particular situation for themselves; they will blindly follow community leaders with political agendas with no intention to delve into the information for themselves simply because it is easier than fighting a larger entity than themselves. The second is fear. Human beings radiate fear as if it is one of the base elements in our physical makeup, whether it is to experience said fear, or to motivate it as a whole. Men need something to be afraid of. In both cases, there was never actually anything for these communities to be afraid of at all, and the idea of not knowing is what scared these people the most of all. Thus their leaders, whether intentionally or no, gave a face to the fear, be it black magic or black men. This fear turned to war fuel and publicity for their respective communities, unintentionally, yet generously, donating to their government pocketbooks. In both scenarios, a simple misunderstanding quickly sprouted a diplomatic agenda, and the situation snowballed into a pit far too deep to back out of, for sake of saving
The Salem Witch Trials and The Kent State Shooting are two similar incidents. Both in which many lives were taken when they did nothing wrong and many arrests were made daily and school was closed down for six weeks. Trials were held for several weeks. The guards were even scared for their lives. Universities had to shut down due to the shooting.
Mayella vs. Victoria: To Kill A Mockingbird vs. Scottsboro Trial “He couldn’t get us to the chair fast enough.” Haywood Patterson a young black boy accused of raping two young girls named Victoria Price and Ruby Bates said this during his trial. Patterson said this about the judge of the case he was involved in. This was in the Scottsboro trial where a group of black boys was accused of raping the two young girls Victoria and Ruby. This same topic is brought up in the book To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee when a young lady named Mayella Ewell accuses a black man named Tom Robinson of raping her.
Although there were many possible causes for the Salem witch trial hysteria of 1692, social division and drama were the most significant. Interestingly, historians have found out about the differences that were present between the accused and the accusers of the witches that fueled the witch hunt. Accordingly, the eastern side of Salem was more powerful and wealthier than the western side of town, which consisted of most accusers who charged people on the east (Doc E). As it is possible to see, there was a division, or crack, in the community, and the western half became jealous or disliked the others in the other half.
In 1692, as the puritans of Salem Massachusetts over-turn on each other, they started scapegoating many of their villagers with witchcraft. During this time many were murdered unfairly. The Salem Witch Trials was a reformation of the government. People believed that this was an era where the devil gave certain humans powers to harm others in joining them into their beliefs. It was certain to happen, because many had personal envy which caused many of the accusations,trials, and the implementations.
Many have heard of the Salem witch trials but not a lot of people know of how truly insane the accusations during them were. Neighbors were accusing each other on no known facts. They would make up stories saying someone is a witch just because they did not like that particular person. Everyone that was accused was guilty until proven innocent; instead of what is said today, which is innocent until proven guilty. No one was safe from being accused.
Drawing inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials, Miller illuminates the devastating consequences of baseless accusations, fear-mongering, and the abuse of power. By exploring the historical context through the lens of a 17th-century witch-hunt, Miller unveils the parallels between the two eras and reveals the dangers of unchecked political manipulation. Miller's focus on the Salem Witch Trials highlights the destructive nature of McCarthyism. The hysteria and paranoia that plagued Salem serve as a cautionary tale, revealing the ease with which fear and ignorance can lead to the death of innocent individuals. When Miller emphasizes the themes of mass hysteria and the fragility of justice, he exposes the stupidity of the witch-hunt mentality that was present in both eras.
Racism and Vengeance Humans judge others on how they look, where they come from, or just plainly who they are; it is human nature. Everyone judges someone at some point in their lives, but how far are people willing to take their judgement. In the 1930’s, at a time when racism was at its peak, nine black boys got in a freight train fight with a couple white vagrants. The boys’ consequences were fatal.
Let me set the scene for you: you’ve just been accused of a crime you didn’t commit, there’s no reliable evidence to prove you committed said crime, and yet you’re still being found guilty. While this isn’t as common today as it was in the past, it still tends to happen. Some of the most famous cases of this happening are the Salem Witch Trials and the trial of the West Memphis 3. While these are very different events we, as people, can learn many different lessons from both events. The witch trials were started and spread by fear and hysteria.
The events which took place in Salem in the dark year of 1962 can be seen as a crucible for every person living in that town. Every man, woman, and child was required to look past the lies and revenge-driven accusations of people they called neighbors, friends, and even family. They had to make it through this horrible time and change the sick way society was putting innocent people to death. This catastrophe in history is comparable to a modern day crucible, the fight against growing Islamophobia in America. These crucibles both saw the light of day due to lies and misrepresentation of specific groups of people.
In Salem, Massachusetts, Puritans were strong believers in the Bible. The Bible states, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” The Puritans beliefs led to them accusing 20 innocent people of being a witch, this resulted in their deaths in 1692. Even though the Puritans couldn’t see it at the time, their accusations were really based off jealousy, lies, and Salem being divided into two parts. One cause of the Salem witch trial hysteria was jealousy.
Michelle Rodriguez 10/30/17 Mr. O. Garza 3rd Blk (A-day) Fuller The Crucible It’s 1692; the people of Salem, Massachusetts are under a government of theocracy and talk of a reverends daughter, Betty, has emerged. Rumors that Betty has been bewitched start to travel from ear to ear and her father isn’t very fond of it.
“In 1919, seventy-six blacks had been lynched, which was the worst toll in fifteen years”. (Boyer et al, 2014) When white Tulsans heard of the gathering, they decided to congregate at the courthouse. Soon enough, shots were fired from an occupant’s gun and the riot
What a Horrible World In today 's day and age we have more technological, medicinal, societal, and worldly advancements than we did in either 1692 or 1947, but we are still just as easily corrupted by jealousy, power, and paranoia. The years 1692 and 1947 are perfect examples of prospering societies that became undermined through very similar processes. In 1629 the Salem Witch Trials and in 1947 the McCarthy Communist Trials- were both held unjustly, involving condemnation based on unfair trial practices. People desperately admitted to being a witch (1692) or to being a communist (1947) only because they didn’t want to die. Even if you were found innocent your life was virtually over because your career and livelihood had been destroyed
People are afraid of things they do not know and it moves them to act hysterical. During the Salem Witch Trials and the Rosewood Massacre, people were wrongly attacked because of false accusations made by others because they were afraid of the unknown. In the Salem Witch Trials, a group of girls were caught doing something they weren’t supposed to do and to get out of it, they coped by accusing people of witchcraft: a crime punishable by death(Weiser). In the Rosewood Massacre, blacks were attacked wrongfully in their own town(Bentley).The Salem Witch Trials and the Rosewood Massacre have an abundance of similarities.
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. In Salem witchcraft became a very big deal. Twenty people died while over two hundred people were accused and it all happened because of one person. Many people are to blame for the witch trials and deaths of the accused, but Abigail is the most to blame. Before the play started Abigail had an affair with John Proctor and Elizabeth fired her from being their maid.