Through out America's past, period of mass hysteria brought on by fear, corruption, greed, and anger have led to many periods of time where false allegations were horrifyingly common. Such false allegations often destroyed lives and careers. False allegations have not only hurt companies, they have also hurt consumers and even the economy. Examples of major false allegations include the Salem Witch Trials, the cold-war and The House Un-American Activities Committee, and even laws or enactments against immigration such as the Chinese exclusion act of 1882 passed by President Chester A. Arthur. The Crucible by Arthur Miller depicted a group of girls who get themselves into trouble when they are caught allegedly preforming witchcraft by Reverend Parris, the village's minister. However, Abigail, the girl's ring leader, claims she and the other girls were only dancing. Later on in the story, Betty who is Reverend Parris' daughter, falls into a coma-like state. Reverend Hale, an expert on withcraft, comes to Parris' house. Suddenly, the girls start screaming names of people they thought they 'saw' with the devil and accused them of not only …show more content…
His diagnosis of bewitchment put into motion the forces that would ultimately result in the death by hanging of nineteen men and women.” The girls accusations led to the death of approximately nineteen villagers. Those accused were often arrested and faced possible execution if they did not confess to witchcraft. Those who did confess to witchcraft did so to save themselves from execution. Those who refused to confess were hanged in the town center except in one known case. “A 20th, Giles Corey, was pressed to death when he refused to plead. As many as 13 others died in prison.” Giles was the only known victim to die by being pressed to death. The girls accusations caused 13 victims to die in prison and another 20 to be executed in the town