Vigilantism: The Great Hanging At Gainesville

What is Vigilantism? Vigilantism is law enforcement made illegally by people who believe what they’re doing is right. Vigilantism has been around since the medieval ages, and was widely popular in the early colonial times. For example, the Salem Witch trials in 1692 were caused by vigilantes. The trials resulted in 20 people being murdered by hanging or imprisoned . 14 were executed. Another example is when in October 1862, Unionist sympathisers in Northern texas were killed. Over 41 people were hung, and 2 other suspects were shot while trying to escape. This event has been called the “Great Hanging at Gainesville” and may be one of the deadliest acts of Vigilante justice in history. Vigilantes believe that the current justice system has failed them in prosecuting a suspect. Vigilantes are commonly known by their use of illegal methods and questionable ideas to punish the suspect. There are three different types of vigilantes: classical vigilantism, neo-vigilantism, and pseudo-vigilantism. Classical vigilantes date back to times in the Old West when they didn’t have any official laws. People would attack someone who they believed was a threat to them or their family, like thieves or alcoholics, They would commonly turn into lynch mobs as well.

Neo-Vigilantism and Pseudo-Vigilantism were mainly to defend social causes by targeting people or entities considered socially threatening or immoral. Pseudo-Vigilantism is more commonly described as using violent or immoral acts to show light on an issue. This can be targeting abortion clinics or burning laboratories. While modern-day Neo-Vigilantes hunt down people who they consider as threats, such as child molesters or