The McCarthy free essay sample

The McCarthy Trails and the Salem witch trials have always drawn comparisons to each other in many ways. People were punished unfairly and without any real form of proof. As we continue throughout history, events similar to the McCarthy and Salem Witch Trials have sprung up occasionally in current events. The methods of persecution in these events have varied from the minor to the extreme. Due to these unfair practices, many victims had their livelihoods destroyed and some were even killed due to another person’s word over theirs. In both of these situations, the accusers were hungry for power and would do anything possible to achieve this power. In any case, reputations were ruined, lives were lost, or families were decimated. The methods of persecution for criminals have varied greatly throughout the ages. Incarceration, torture, and death are common methods that have been used as punishments for crimes. During the McCarthy and Salem Witch Trials, people were punished in many ways. During the Salem Witch Trials, the accused were first placed in jail to await a hearing. In all, over 150 people were arrested and placed in jail. Even more were accused but were never pursued by the proper authorities. If found guilty of witchcraft, the victims were sentenced to death by hanging. Between June and September of 1692 nineteen of the accused were hanged. On September 19th, 1962 one man was pressed to death when he failed to plead guilty or not guilty. At least four deaths occurred from the accused dying while incarcerated. The punishments during the McCarthy trials while less severe, still had a devastating impact on the persons involved. People accused of being communist had their names added to a blacklist created by Hollywood. The only way to be removed was to meet before the House of Un-American Activities Committee and prove your innocence. If a person that was called before the House of Un-American Activities Committee refused to name other people involved in these communist groups then you would be added to the blacklist. Over 320 people were placed on the list which stopped them from working in the entertainment industry. The United States government then decided to use the Alien Registration Act to place over forty-six people in jail. Senator Joseph McCarthy then accused 205 people in the State Department of being communists. Investigations were launched and many thousands lost their jobs after admitting to being members of the communist party. Senator McCarthy ruined the lives of many, all to increase his own power and self-image. It is amazing that an event like the Salem Witch Trials was allowed to repeat itself with the McCarthy trials. The Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and even recent events all draw similarities to each other. Events where people have been wrongly prosecuted have happened throughout history. The similarities begin with a culture that is in a state of panic. The Salem Witch Trials were the result of a very strong effort to find witches brought on by panic about strange events. The same was true for McCarthy in the Senate. He was on a mission to find communists, and an already panicked public was very willing to believe him. Both were based on incorrect facts and gained momentum due to their leaders instilling public hysteria. Both trials ended when the accusations proved to be false and unsubstantiated. In my current event, a victim had Secret Service agents show up at her house because she supposedly had anti-American posters in her home. The poster that the agents were referring to was one with President Bush holding a rope, with the words: We Hang on Your Every Word. George Bush, Wanted: 152 Dead. It refers to the number who was put to death in Texas while Bush was the governor. The woman had her information taken down and her name added to some type of list. Many of these types of situations have been springing up around the country. Terrorism in recent years is the main cause of this; just like witch hysteria and communism of the past. Acts like the Patriot Act inflict on certain rights of Americans. Warrantless wiretapping has become a serious issue in recent years, with groups such as the ACLU attacking such policies. Overall, these events do draw many similarities to each other and their effects will never be forgotten. The Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and recent events also have much dissimilarity between them. During McCarthyism, the punishments for being accused were much less severe. You could get blacklisted under McCarthyism, but you received a fair trial and no one was ever killed during these events. The worst scenario was either a job loss or a tarnished reputation. The Salem Witch trials involved superstition that went beyond the Christian religion. People were mainly accused by a group of girls that pointed the finger to many innocent women. If they admitted to being a witch then they were sparred from death. Today, rights granted by the constitution are being stressed by the government with the hope of keeping American people safe. You may be investigated, but no harm has since come because of these new policies. As time continues, we will see how future events transpire and how similar they are to the past. The McCarthy Trails and the Salem witch trials have had a great affect on our history. Victims were unfairly reprimanded during these events. The methods of persecution ranged from death to defamation of character. Power hungry individuals led the hysteria, sacrificing others to build up their power. What we do know is that these types of events continue to arise, even in today’s world. Whether we have learned from these events will remain to be seen.