the salem witch trials (1692-1693) and the red scare (1947-1957)

The Salem Witch Trials(1692-1693)

and

The Red Scare (1947-1957)

Pre-test

1. When did the witch trials begin?

2. What is a witch cake?

3. In what ways were witches exectued?

4. What ended the witch trials?

5. What is the HUAC?

6. What was Senator McCarthy’s “Black Book?”

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“A city upon a hill…”

• “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken... we shall be made a story and a by-word throughout the world.”

• Inspired by Matthew 5:14 when Jesus tells his listeners: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Puritans

• Wanted to purify the Church of England• Established a theocracy

– Most humanity damned for all eternity– A particular individual could be one of the Elect to

be saved, but you never knew who

• Education very important to them• Plain Living (personal and religious lives)

– Literary style: plain and based in religion– No cathedrals or elaborate ceremonies

Puritans

Puritan Ethic

Puritans emphasized that suffering was necessary to redeem oneself from original sin and that hard work not only produces wealth, but strong moral character (the "Puritan Ethic"). Those who did not devote themselves to hard work were in mortal danger of falling into evil ways.

1. Self-reliance3. Industriousness

2. Temperance 4. Simplicity

Beginning of the Witch Hunt

• January 1692: young girls fall ill• February 1692: doctor claims girls bewitched• Town outcasts accused:

– Sarah Good (claimed innocence --> accused Osborne) – Sarah Osborne (claimed innocence)– Tituba (confessed)

• Hysteria begins: 150 people arrested

Context• A strong belief in

the devil • Rivalry of Salem

Town vs Salem Village

• Recent small pox epidemic

• Threat of attack by warring tribes

Two Key Players

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) • The “Witch Finder of Salem”• Wrote “Wonders of the Invisible World”

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Reverend Parris (1653 - 1720)• Local minister•Father of Betty•Accuses many

Court of Oyer & Terminer

• Governor Phips creates a new court to hear witchcraft cases: – Oyer (hearing) and

Terminer (decide)

• Five judges appointed to the court

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Chief Justice: William Stoughton

Process of Judging

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Verification of Witchcraft

• TESTS:– If dead body bleeds– Witch marks– Witch cakes– Float/sink test– Touch test

• Guilty until proven innocent• Spectral evidence• Accused had no lawyers

The Witch Trials

• 150 arrested

• 19 hanged at Gallow Hill

• 1 pressed to death

• 4-13 accused died in jail (awaiting trial)

• 2 dogs killed

• Confession = life

End of Witch Trials

• September 1692 - hysteria wanes• Sympathy• Governor Phips’ wife accused• May 1693 Phips pardons remaining

accused• “Afflicted girls” (except Ann Putnam)

remorseless• Judges (except Stoughton) sorry

And, history repeats itself …

From the witch trials …

To the Red Scare…

The Red Scare

• Post WWII tensions between Soviet Union and US: Cold War

• Distrust/fear/hatred of communists

• Senator Joseph McCarthy exploits fears

• “Black Book” with 200+ names

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House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

• achieved its greatest fame and notoriety with its investigation into the Hollywood film industry in 1947 – Accused: name names or blacklisted– Friendly or Unfriendly witnesses

• “Hollywood Ten” cited 1st Amendment (free speech/assembly): arrested

• Other accused cited 5th Amendment (self-incrimination): fired or suspected or both

Friendly Witnesses

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Walt Disney

- Not under suspicion- Treated with respect- Read pre-composed answers

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Gary Cooper

Unfriendly Witnesses

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Lillian Hellman

"To hurt innocent people whom I knew many years ago in order to save myself is, to me, inhuman and indecent and dishonorable. I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions, even though I long ago came to the conclusion that I was not a political person and could have no comfortable place in any political group."

Those who refused to participate were blacklisted.

The End of McCarthyism

• Edward R. Murrow: reporter

• 1952: McCarthy accused of “conduct contrary to Senatorial traditions”

• Head counsel for the United States Army Joseph N. Welch: “Have you left no sense of decency?”– McCarthy censured