The Crucible And Salem Witch Trials Similarities - 790 Words

Leah Zafir Mrs. Ephrati American History 12 December 2017 Salem Witch Trials and The McCarthy Era The United States of America is filled with many historic events, enriching its history. Many events that occur are compared to past events in our history. In particular, the McCarthy Era in the 1950’s was compared to the Salem Witch Trials which occurred in 1692. This correlation was first made by Arthur Miller who wrote the play â€Å"The Crucible†. He connected the time period of McCarthy to where there was a hunt for communists, to the Salem Witch Trials where there was a hunt for witches. Following that, many comparisons and contrasts have been made between the two. The Salem Witch Trials and McCarthy Era are both similar, yet different.†¦show more content†¦This led to the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials, in which more and more community members were accused. Nineteen people were hung, and two dogs were killed. Giles Corey was pressed to death with stones upon refusing to testify Most people were accused using s pectral evidence, which is evidence based on dreams or visions. The trials were put to an end when Governor Phips own wife was accused, and he made spectral evidence illegal. (Ushistory.com) (Wallenfeldt) The Salem Witch Trial had many effects. First, the colony had neglected their crops and homes, and suffered from scarce food and higher taxes. Also, the law required that you had to pay for your board and food before leaving the prison. Many people were stuck in the prisons, since they could not afford to pay for their release. (Sutter) Additionally, on January 14, 1692 a fast day with prayers was declared in Salem over the great tragedy. Many people publicly confessed their guiltiness, such as Judge Samuel Sewall. It was only in the year 1957, that the state of Massachusetts properly made an apology. However, the lasting legacy of the trial still lives on. (Wallenfeldt) The McCarthy Era in the 1950’s, was a time in American history when Senator Joseph McCarthy began accusing people of being part of the communist party. After WWII, the United States enemy was no longer Japan and Russia, but there alliesShow MoreRelatedSimilarities Between The Crucible And Salem Witch Trials1 079 Words   |  5 Pages The Crucible is a play that explains the story the Salem Witch trials. Arthur Miller, is the author of this play. McCarthyism played a big role in the creation of The Crucible. Many differences and similarities were drawn between the play and the Red Scare. The horrors of history are passed on from generation to generation in hopes that they will never happen again. People look back on these times and are surprised at how terrible the times were. Yet, in the 1950s, history repeated itself. 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I believe that Arthur Miller’s life and his experience of McCarthyism strongly influenced the writing of The Crucible. McCarthyism, named after Joseph McCarthy was a period of intense anti-communism, which occurred in the United States from 1948 to about 1956. During this time the government of the United States persecuted the Communist party USA, its leadership, and many others suspectedRead Morethe crucible vs real life766 Words   |  4 PagesLearning From the Past The Salem Witch Trials were an extremely controversial period of time in our history. This was a time of suspicion and accusation of many innocent women and men that led to hysteria and complete turmoil in Salem Village. The Crucible portrays the Salem Witch Trials in a dramatic sense, but there are many similarities between the movie and the actual events. We can use these unusual events to compare to our own lives and learn from the mistakes of our past. 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