Witches and Witches and CommunistsCommunists

Hysteria and FearHysteria and Fear

Puritan’s Religious AgendaPuritan’s Religious Agenda

To achieve and preserve a To achieve and preserve a simplicity and 'purity' that they simplicity and 'purity' that they felt had been lost felt had been lost

To establish themselves as To establish themselves as rightful interpreters of the Bible rightful interpreters of the Bible

Unlike Pilgrims, Puritans had no Unlike Pilgrims, Puritans had no intention of breaking with the intention of breaking with the Anglican churchAnglican church

PredestinationPredestination

The human state was one of sin and depravity The human state was one of sin and depravity after the Fall all but an elect group were after the Fall all but an elect group were

irrevocably bound for hellirrevocably bound for hell God's knowledge and power was not limited God's knowledge and power was not limited

by space or time, this group had always been by space or time, this group had always been elect.elect.

In other words, there was nothing one could In other words, there was nothing one could do about the condition of one's soul but try to do about the condition of one's soul but try to act as one would expect a heaven-bound soul act as one would expect a heaven-bound soul to act. to act.

IndividualismIndividualism

idea of "inner light" which allowed every idea of "inner light" which allowed every person direct access to God, was an person direct access to God, was an outbreak of "dangerous" individualism, outbreak of "dangerous" individualism, one which threatened the foundation of one which threatened the foundation of their social order. their social order.

The integrity of the community as religious The integrity of the community as religious entity (Winthrop's "city on a hill"), which entity (Winthrop's "city on a hill"), which had been the purpose of their coming to had been the purpose of their coming to America, could only be, at best, weakened America, could only be, at best, weakened and dispersed, and at worst, be challenged and dispersed, and at worst, be challenged

WitchesWitches

belief in witches was generally belief in witches was generally questioned by no one--Puritan or questioned by no one--Puritan or otherwise otherwise

"lurid details" of Cotton Mather's "lurid details" of Cotton Mather's Memorable Providences, Relating Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessionsto Witchcrafts and Possessions

TimelineTimeline

winter of 1692, winter of 1692, Betty Parris became strangely ill. Betty Parris became strangely ill. dashed about, dove under furniture, dashed about, dove under furniture,

contorted in pain, and complained of contorted in pain, and complained of fever.fever.

The cause of her symptoms may have The cause of her symptoms may have been some combination of stress, been some combination of stress, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, epilepsy, and delusional psychosis.  epilepsy, and delusional psychosis. 

TimelineTimeline

eleven-year-old Ann Putnam, eleven-year-old Ann Putnam, seventeen-year-old Mercy Lewis, seventeen-year-old Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott, began to and Mary Walcott, began to exhibit similar unusual behavior. exhibit similar unusual behavior.

Doctor William Griggs suggested Doctor William Griggs suggested that the girls' problems might that the girls' problems might have a supernatural origin. have a supernatural origin.

The AccusedThe Accused

Tituba: told the girls tales of omens, Tituba: told the girls tales of omens, voodoo, and witchcraft from her voodoo, and witchcraft from her native folklore native folklore

Sarah Good: a beggar and social Sarah Good: a beggar and social misfit who lived wherever someone misfit who lived wherever someone would house her would house her

Sarah Osborn: old, quarrelsome, had Sarah Osborn: old, quarrelsome, had not attended church for over a year. not attended church for over a year.

ConfessionsConfessions

Tituba claimed that she was approached by Tituba claimed that she was approached by a tall man from Boston--obviously Satan--a tall man from Boston--obviously Satan--who sometimes appeared as a dog or a hog who sometimes appeared as a dog or a hog and who asked her to sign in his book and and who asked her to sign in his book and to do his work.to do his work.

She declared, she was a witch, and she and She declared, she was a witch, and she and four other witches, (including Good and four other witches, (including Good and Osborn), had flown through the air on their Osborn), had flown through the air on their poles.  She had tried to run to Reverend poles.  She had tried to run to Reverend Parris for counsel, she said, but the devil Parris for counsel, she said, but the devil had blocked her path. had blocked her path.

ConfessionsConfessions

Stuck in jail with the damning Stuck in jail with the damning testimony of the afflicted girls testimony of the afflicted girls widely accepted, suspects widely accepted, suspects began to see began to see confession as a confession as a way to avoid the gallows.way to avoid the gallows.   

TrialsTrials

"touching test“: defendants were asked "touching test“: defendants were asked to touch afflicted persons to see if their to touch afflicted persons to see if their touch would stop their contortions touch would stop their contortions

"witches' marks“: moles or the like "witches' marks“: moles or the like upon which a witch's familiar might upon which a witch's familiar might suck suck

hearsay, gossip, stories, unsupported hearsay, gossip, stories, unsupported assertions, surmises-- was also assertions, surmises-- was also generally admitted (these would be generally admitted (these would be excluded from modern courtrooms)excluded from modern courtrooms)

Bridget BishopBridget Bishop

Almost sixty years old, Almost sixty years old, owner of  a tavern where patrons owner of  a tavern where patrons

could drink cider ale and play could drink cider ale and play shuffleboard (even on the shuffleboard (even on the Sabbath), Sabbath),

critical of her neighbors, and critical of her neighbors, and reluctant to pay her bills, reluctant to pay her bills,

First to go to Court First to go to Court

John ProctorJohn Proctor

scoffed at accusations of witchcraft scoffed at accusations of witchcraft but became a target of accusations but became a target of accusations himself.  himself. 

was an opinionated tavern owner who was an opinionated tavern owner who openly denounced the witchhunt.  openly denounced the witchhunt. 

fought back, accusing confessed fought back, accusing confessed witches of lying, complaining of witches of lying, complaining of torture, and demanding that his trial torture, and demanding that his trial be moved to Boston.  be moved to Boston. 

was hanged. was hanged.

Giles CoreyGiles Corey 80 years old80 years old spent 5 months in a Salem jail had nothing spent 5 months in a Salem jail had nothing

but contempt for the proceedings.  but contempt for the proceedings.  Seeing the futility of a trial and hoping that Seeing the futility of a trial and hoping that

by avoiding a conviction his farm, that by avoiding a conviction his farm, that would otherwise go the state, might go to would otherwise go the state, might go to his two sons-in-law, his two sons-in-law,

Corey refused to stand for trial.  Corey refused to stand for trial.  pressed under heavy stones until his pressed under heavy stones until his

death.  death. 

End of Witch HuntsEnd of Witch Hunts

early autumn of 1692, doubts were early autumn of 1692, doubts were developing as to how so many developing as to how so many respectable people could be guilty. respectable people could be guilty.

19 convicted witches were executed 19 convicted witches were executed 4 accused witches had died in prison, 4 accused witches had died in prison, 100-200 other persons were arrested 100-200 other persons were arrested

and imprisoned on witchcraft charges. and imprisoned on witchcraft charges. 2 dogs were executed as suspected 2 dogs were executed as suspected

accomplices of witches. accomplices of witches. 

Accusers vs AccusedAccusers vs Accused

AccusersAccusers accusing families accusing families

stood to gain property stood to gain property from the convictions from the convictions of accused witches. of accused witches. 

played leading roles played leading roles in forcing Burroughs in forcing Burroughs to leave Salem. to leave Salem. 

AccusedAccused lived to the southlived to the south supported former supported former

minister George minister George BurroughsBurroughs

generally better off generally better off financiallyfinancially

property disputes and congregational feuds played a major role in determining who lived, and who died, in 1692.

Facts and FictionFacts and Fiction

FactsFacts Betty’s mom Betty’s mom

was alivewas alive Abigail 11Abigail 11 John 60 John 60

Elizabeth 41Elizabeth 41 6 Putnam kids6 Putnam kids

FictionFiction Betty’s mom was Betty’s mom was

deaddead Abigail 17Abigail 17 Proctor and Proctor and

Elizabeth youngerElizabeth younger One Putman kid One Putman kid

(Ruth)(Ruth)

Facts and FictionFacts and Fiction

FactsFacts Hangings over Hangings over

the course of the course of the summerthe summer

FictionFiction Hangings on Hangings on

the same daythe same day

McCarthyMcCarthy

1950 claimed to possess a list of 1950 claimed to possess a list of 205 card-carrying Communists 205 card-carrying Communists employed in the U.S. Department employed in the U.S. Department of State.  of State. 

became a tireless crusader against became a tireless crusader against Communism in the early 1950s, a Communism in the early 1950s, a period that has been commonly period that has been commonly referred to as the "Red Scare."  referred to as the "Red Scare." 

McCarthyMcCarthy

conducted hearings on conducted hearings on communist subversion in communist subversion in America and investigated alleged America and investigated alleged communist infiltration of the communist infiltration of the Armed Forces.  Armed Forces. 

censured by the U.S. Senate on censured by the U.S. Senate on December 2, 1954 December 2, 1954

died May 2, 1957. died May 2, 1957.

McCarthyismMcCarthyism

1.  The political practice of 1.  The political practice of publicizing accusations of disloyalty publicizing accusations of disloyalty or subversion with insufficient or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence, and  regard to evidence, and 

2.  The use of methods of 2.  The use of methods of investigation and accusation investigation and accusation regarded as unfair, in order to regarded as unfair, in order to suppress opposition. suppress opposition.

History of TacticsHistory of Tactics

Switched to Republican party after Switched to Republican party after losing a nominationlosing a nomination

falsely claimed that his opponent, falsely claimed that his opponent, Edgar Werner, was 73 (really 66). Edgar Werner, was 73 (really 66).

suggested that Werner was senile, suggested that Werner was senile, implied that he was guilty of implied that he was guilty of

financial corruption.financial corruption.

More CrazinessMore Craziness

Ran for SenateRan for Senate campaign posters in full fighting campaign posters in full fighting

gear, gear, (aviator's cap, many belts of (aviator's cap, many belts of machine gun ammunition)machine gun ammunition)

Claimed he had completed 32 Claimed he had completed 32 missions but really had a desk job missions but really had a desk job and flew in training exercises. and flew in training exercises.

Criticized opponent for not Criticized opponent for not enlistingenlisting

Senator McCarthySenator McCarthy

Tries to end coal strike Tries to end coal strike called for John L. Lewis and the called for John L. Lewis and the

striking miners to be drafted into the striking miners to be drafted into the Army. Army.

If the men still refused to mine the If the men still refused to mine the coal, McCarthy suggested they coal, McCarthy suggested they should be court-martialed for should be court-martialed for insubordination and shot. insubordination and shot.

MotivationMotivation

Unimpressive first yearsUnimpressive first years People question war record and People question war record and

bribes from Pepsibribes from Pepsi Needs way to keep seat in senateNeeds way to keep seat in senate began a campaign against began a campaign against

communist subversives working communist subversives working in the Democratic administration in the Democratic administration

Why did People Listen?Why did People Listen?

war going badly in Korea war going badly in Korea communist advances in Eastern communist advances in Eastern

Europe and in China, Europe and in China, American public were genuinely American public were genuinely

frightened about the possibilities of frightened about the possibilities of internal subversion. internal subversion.

McCarthy, was in an ideal position McCarthy, was in an ideal position to exploit this situation. to exploit this situation.

The AccusedThe Accused

questioned a large number of people questioned a large number of people about their political past. about their political past.

people lost their jobs after they people lost their jobs after they admitted they had been members of admitted they had been members of the Communist Party. the Communist Party.

McCarthy made it clear to the McCarthy made it clear to the witnesses that the witnesses that the onlyonly way of way of showing that they had abandoned showing that they had abandoned their left-wing views was by naming their left-wing views was by naming other members of the party. other members of the party.

CensorshipCensorship

anti-American books in librariesanti-American books in libraries His researchers looked into the Overseas His researchers looked into the Overseas

Library Program and discovered 30,000 Library Program and discovered 30,000 books by "communists, pro-communists, books by "communists, pro-communists, former communists and anti anti-former communists and anti anti-communists." communists."

After the publication of this list, these After the publication of this list, these books were removed from the library books were removed from the library shelves. shelves.

The ArmyThe Army

Investigates Communists Investigates Communists on the US Armyon the US Army

Televised hearings expose Televised hearings expose his tacticshis tactics

He loses supportHe loses support

DeathDeath

Censured by the Censured by the SenateSenate

Dies from Dies from AlcoholismAlcoholism

HollywoodHollywood

In 1947, the House Un-In 1947, the House Un-American Activities American Activities Committee began its Committee began its investigation of suspected investigation of suspected communists in the film communists in the film industry. The investigation industry. The investigation ruined hundreds of careers. ruined hundreds of careers.

Arthur MillerArthur Miller

1950 began to think of writing about 1950 began to think of writing about the hunt for Reds in America,the hunt for Reds in America,

motivated by the paralysis that had motivated by the paralysis that had set in among many liberals who, set in among many liberals who, despite their discomfort with the despite their discomfort with the inquisitors' violations of civil rights, inquisitors' violations of civil rights, were fearful, and with good reason, were fearful, and with good reason, of being identified as covert of being identified as covert Communists if they should protest Communists if they should protest too strongly. too strongly.

The Red HuntThe Red Hunt

The Red hunt, led by the House The Red hunt, led by the House Committee on Un-American Activities and Committee on Un-American Activities and by McCarthy, was becoming the by McCarthy, was becoming the dominating fixation of the American dominating fixation of the American psyche. It reached Hollywood when the psyche. It reached Hollywood when the studios, after first resisting, agreed to studios, after first resisting, agreed to submit artists' names to the House submit artists' names to the House Committee for "clearing" before employing Committee for "clearing" before employing them. This unleashed a veritable holy them. This unleashed a veritable holy terror among actors, directors, and others, terror among actors, directors, and others, from Party members to those who had had from Party members to those who had had the merest brush with a front organization. the merest brush with a front organization.