Throughout the 1940s and 50s America was overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of communism growing in eastern Europe and China.Paranoia ensued. Salem was established as a religious community in the midst of evil. The people of Salem considered the forest the domain of the devil, and as you could guess, they were surrounded by it; Paranoia ensued A young senator named John McCarthy, made a public accusation that more than 200 “card carrying” commies infiltrated the U.S. government. Eventually his accusations were proved to be untrue. The delusional girls made unsubstantiated claims of the existence of witches in Salem, though they had no proof. These claimed ruined lives and increased hostility. Those who were accused of communism were