ipl-logo

Mc Martin Trials

1040 Words5 Pages

The Mc Martin Trials Mass hysteria has been known to influence people’s behavior throughout history. There are many known cases in the world; for instance, there is the infamous Salem Witch trials, a mass delusion that killed over 40 people in 1692. It is believed to have such power that it can pilot entire nations. One of the best known cases in mass delusions in the past decades in the United States happened in the small town of Manhattan Beach in California in 1983. Virginia Mc Martin, founder of the Mc Martin preschool, jointly with her family and staff were accused of child molestation, sodomy and satanic ritual abuse toward their students. Victoria’s grandson, Raymond Buckey, was charged with 79 counts of child molestation. …show more content…

The Los Angeles County police sent a letter to over two-hundred parents of current and former students. The letter suggested that there was a possibility that their kids might have been molested. In a matter of days, parents all over the county began accusing the Mc Martin staff of rape and other charges. The letter which included a filled-out form had words like “oral sex”, “fondling of genitals”, and “sodomy”. These terms soon turned parents into a troop of angry citizens that demanded justice and answers to their accusations. In accordance with David Scott, author of the article “Virginia Mc Martin Dies at 88; Figure in Case on Child Abuse”, it was suggested that this letters contaminated the case from the beginning. In the letter, they could find the name of Raymond Buckey causing hysteria among the children’s parents. Five employees of the daycare were taken into custody and charged with over 120 counts of child abuse that in the end turned to 321 charges involving 49 children. The news of the case soon spread throughout the country. Supposed allegations of child abuse began surfacing in dozens of pre-schools. According to an article by The National Review titled “The Salem Epidemic,” a New Jersey preschool teacher, Kelly Michaels, was charged with over one hundred counts of abuse and torture of children under her care. Even though testimonies were delusional, the mass hysteria created around the case, influenced the Jury to find her guilty. In a New York Times article “The Devil in the Nursery,” by author Margaret Talbot, points out the levels of hysteria reached by society; for instance, in one occasion a black robe thought to be used in the claimed satanic rituals, turned out to be Peggy Buckeys graduation gown. In addition, Talbot

Show More
Related
792 Words | 4 Pages

Although, the picture the public failed to see at first ultimately led to a harsh and difficult lifestyle for these kids. Both judges were very demanding, for example in cash for kids, judge Ciavarella didn’t put up with any kid. Whether it was a small behavioral offense or a larger criminal offense, he treated it the same. Ciavarella

Read More
749 Words | 3 Pages

In Massachusetts during 1692, Salem Village underwent a time of grief, trial, death, and Witchcraft. The chaos in Salem Village began when young girls would have what they called “fits” and they would scream vey vulgarly and fall onto the ground and shake uncontrollably (Magoon 6). These fits frightened the surrounding people and the Doctors of Salem couldn't find a diagnosis. After studying and trying to understand the illness they had, the people of Salem came to the conclusion that these girls were possessed by the Devil (Magoon 7). The result would lead to one of the most recognized events in American History, the Salem Witch Trials.

Read More
576 Words | 3 Pages

In conclusion, as a future teacher, it is important to understand my responsibility to report any suspected child neglect or abuse. Even if my future student does not give me permission to report the incident, if the child is in danger, it is my responsibility to report. By keeping his promise of confidentiality to J.D., Dr. Pesce put J.D. in great danger. The student was in danger at school because of the misconduct of the teacher, and he was in danger outside of school because of his shame and suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Read More
1532 Words | 7 Pages

The novel A Delusion of Satan written by Frances Hill describes the history of the Salem Witch Trials (“Salem”) in 1692, the causes and effects of the witch hysteria, and the biographies of major characters associated with the trials. In the novel, Hill started out explaining the Puritans’ beliefs and customs, the gender roles of men and women in Salem and why women were easily accused of being witches and practicing witchcraft in the 17th century. During that time, women were easily accused of practicing witchcraft because they were viewed as physically, politically and spiritually weaker than men. Men were perceived as the power, status, and worthy in the society, and they dominated women’s behavior and social status. In the 17th century,

Read More
1066 Words | 5 Pages

The Salem Witch Trials; Madness or Logic In Stacey Schiff’s, List of 5 Possible Causes of the Salem Witch Trials and Shah Faiza’s, THE WITCHES OF SALEM; Diabolical doings in a Puritan village, discuss in their articles what has been debated by so many historians for years, the causes of the Salem Witch trials. Schiff and the Faiza, purpose is to argue the possible religious, scientific, communal, and sociological reasons on why the trials occurred. All while making word by word in the writer’s testimony as if they were there through emotion and just stating simply the facts and theories. They adopt the hectic tone in order to convey to the readers the significance, tragedy, logic, loss, and possible madness behind these life changing events,

Read More
465 Words | 2 Pages

If The Witch Don’t Fit, You Must Acquit In “The Crucible” 1953 written by Arthur Miller, wrote that hysteria in any place can ruin lives. The year is 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. In Salem at the time it was a modest town brimming with Puritans. In the town of Salem, little secrets, jealousy and massive hysteria spread around the town.

Read More
1056 Words | 5 Pages

As we mentioned earlier, the freshman’s mother mentioned to coach McElroy the fact that the upperclassman was calling her son those insulting names. This incident could have been foreseeable by the coaches, and possibly the administration, if the coach reported anything to the principal and athletic director. The Mepham High School football season was eventually cancelled and the three upperclassman were charged with “involuntary deviate sexual intercourse,” “aggravated assault,” “kidnapping,” “unlawful restraint,” “false imprisonment,” “terroristic threats,” “criminal coercion,” “simple assault,” “reckless endangering of another person,” “ethnic intimidation,” and “criminal conspiracy.” Judge Robert J. Conway chose to try the accused as juveniles.

Read More
773 Words | 4 Pages

Innocent people who are incriminated under improper evidence are hanged. Parallel in the McMartin day care abuse case, the McMartin family, who administrate the establishment, and other members are accused illegally of having abused sexually numerously of the children under their vigilance. The accusations used against the McMartin

Read More
764 Words | 4 Pages

One's moral compass is diminished during times of collective mob mentality, this causes many to wonder if conforming to a herd is subliminal or subjective. The town of Salem rose to chaos in the witch trials as the truth of devil affiliation was based on the accusations made by those falling ill to mob mentality in search for acceptance, empowerment, trust in the majority, and collective fear. Mob mentality held capture over the town of Salem as fear ripped through the hearts and families within the community. Conforming to the mob caused social Validation and personal power advancements, but refusing to do so ostracized the individual.

Read More
624 Words | 3 Pages

The Salem Witch Trials accusing others of a feared crime showed definite evidence that mass hysteria was to blame. Salem was a religious settlement, following Puritan beliefs (Miller, 6). A large fear for everyone in Salem was the touch of the Devil (Miller, Arthur). According to Puritan beliefs, if a man or woman was touched by the Devil he would convince them to do witchcraft. Once word was mentioned the Devil had possibly touched Salem, the fear spread.

Read More
1205 Words | 5 Pages

Mental Illness in Salem Witch Trials Introduction Witchcraft is the practice of magic and the use of spells and the invocation of spirits. According to Salem Witch Trials, 2015, the Salem witch trials began during the spring of 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem, Massachusetts claimed to have been bewitched by several adults in the town. More than 150 people were accused and hung, including men, women, and children (Salem Witch Trials, 2015). There were three girls in particular that sparked the trials: Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, and Ann Putnam. Also stated in Salem Witch Trials, their behaviors changed drastically; they began to hallucinate, shout in church, have fits, not eat, not wake up, attempt to fly, and feel as if they

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

The Salem Witch Trials The belief of witchcraft can be traced back centuries to as early as the 1300’s. The Salem Witch Trials occurred during 1690’s in which many members of Puritan communities were accused and convicted of witchcraft. These “witch trials” were most famously noted in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Many believe this town to be the starting point for the mass hysteria which spread to many other areas of New England.

Read More
1816 Words | 8 Pages

The Crucible by Arthur Miller and Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne are two stories that are based on mass hysteria and public shaming. Both stories and their topics are what helped to shape America’s early identity. In The Crucible, the townsfolk accept and become active in the hysterical climate not only out of genuine religious piety but also because it gives them a chance to express repressed sentiments and to act on long-held grudges”. This shows that there is mass hysteria in the story based on the quotation and its explain why people have mass hysteria or why they do it. A group of teenage girls is discovered dancing naked in the woods by the town minister.

Read More
1451 Words | 6 Pages

Fear that spread among a group of people in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, that event in history is a prime example of Mass Hysteria. In Salem the reason why so many women were killed was because of Mass Hysteria. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. “The Crucible”, a short play dedicated to these events in Salem shows us how hysteria was such a leading cause of why the Witch Trials had even occurred. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth.

Read More
1122 Words | 5 Pages

Heger, he testified that after the medical examination of the children. There was an indication of sexual molestation with most children. The defense disagreed with the results from Dr. Heger’s testimony; the assessment was not from a physical assessment, but from past medical histories and a medical device. In addition, the defense argued that the children were in fact not photographed naked playing games such as, cowboy and Indian, movie star and doing cartwheels because there was no evidence of nude pictures of the children found at the pre-school, or in the homes of the McMartins or employees. In addition, other pre-schools were raided and no evidence was

Read More

More about Mc Martin Trials

Related Topics

Open Document