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Examples Of Mccarthyism In The Crucible

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A witch hunt is seen as an intensive effort to discover and expose disloyalty, subversion, dishonesty, or the like, usually based on slight, doubtful, or irrelevant evidence. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 and recounts one such witch hunt. During this time, witches and conspiring with the devil were frowned upon by the Puritan church, and were the cause of much fear and suspicion. The Salem Witch Trials were a product of this fear and uncertainty that eventually overwhelmed the village for more than a year. Miller wrote The Crucible during the time America was concerned about the rising power of Communism in the Soviet Union on the heels of World War II. Soon, people feared, communist ways would come to the United States and would quickly corrupt the government system. Senator McCarthy rose to power during this time by creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion based on false claims of communist activity. Conventional wisdom has it that mankind has evolved so far that the idea of targeting innocents is no longer an issue; however, Senator McCarthy and targeting of innocent Muslims after 9/11 remind us that witch hunts still exists in modern times.

One way The Crucible witch hunt …show more content…

In McCarthyism, people looked at communists as enemies of the country. If people were aware of the card carrying communist, only life itself would be over. American citizens would shun these people that do not believe in Democratic ways. In The Crucible, the punishments were much more dangerous. Witchcraft, is seen as a demonic practice and is completely against the Puritan church. People were to “confess themselves or they will hang!” (Pg. 225). Confessing to the court and the judges would set your life free from the rope. If no confession is made of witchcraft, “you will hang if you do not open with me!” (Pg.

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Examples Of Mccarthyism In The Crucible

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