Consider what is known of the Salem Witch Trials. When recollecting it, one may think of how asinine it is that such a frenzy began over nothing. Humanity knows its history well, and with the platitude “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it,” one might assume that those times of hysteria are over. Surely the opposite must then be true, that those who know their history would learn from their mistakes, but this is not always true. As senseless as the trials were, they were a mere shadow of a modern-day witch hunt; this time, however, it was not witches, but communists. In a time when the American people were supposed to know better, they found themselves caught up in the grip of an anti-communist backlash so strong, its fervor was reminiscent of that in 1600’s Salem. …show more content…
The single element that made the anti-communist movement so dangerous was also what made it ridiculous: its fervor. Any sensible person, when asked, would more than likely say ‘no’ if they were asked if they would ruin, or even end, a man’s life with no evidence. The mere idea that untold lives were ruined based on accusations with no factual basis may seem ridiculous now, but then, it was commonplace. Communists were seen by Americans as so dangerous that little to no evidence was needed for a conviction. This might have died down sooner if there were none who benefitted from it; however, numerous politicians found that a strong stance and promises of retribution boosted their favorability in the eyes of the people. Consequently, previously little-known politicians rose to notoriety at the expense of