Mass Hysteria And The Red Scare - 1366 Words

Mass Hysteria â€Å"Mass hysteria is a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behavior or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness† (dictionary.com). Mass hysteria has been part of history since the beginning of time. It happened in the United States the years 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. In Salem, two young girls were responsible for starting mass hysteria by showing erratic behavior and accusing other people of witchcraft. This resulted in the death of over 20 people. Salem citizens were very confused and scared because they were never sure of how secure they actually were. Another reason Salem citizens were nervous was because, if their fate was put to the test, it would be in the hands of an unreliable court. Another event that involves mass hysteria was the one known as â€Å"The Red Scare†. The Red Scare was a variety of actions that led to an enduring episode of fear and hostility through the years 1940s and 1950s. The Red Scare was caused by a series of threats towards America. The Red Scare had many figures but two that were exemplary to others were Hoover and McCarthy. These men stirred up the environment with m ore problems than it had before. Citizens of America were surrounded by many threats especially their homes being corrupted by the pressure they were surrounded by. Politics played a very keystone part in The Red Scare because it was the fuel to the fire. Families and friends were being separated sinceShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Mass Hysteria In The Crucible1032 Words   |  5 Pagesfarmer incites the outset of mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts by convincing the villagers that witchcraft is being practiced by those in their midst. Mass hysteria is defined in Witchcraft and Mass Hysteria in Terms of Current Psychological Theories as â€Å"a phenomenon that transmits collective illusions of threats, whether real or imaginary, through a population in society as a result of rumors and fear† (Wolf 23-28). As written by Gary Small M.D. in â€Å"Mass Hysteria Can Strike Anywhere, Anytime†Read MoreSummary Of The Crucible And The Red Scare828 Words   |  4 PagesCrucible t ook place in 1692 when Abagail’s one little lie causes mass hysteria by lying about preforming witchcraft. She and her friends go into the woods to dance and wish for things they want to happen, Abagail wishes that Goody Proctor would die so she could have John Proctor to herself. However, Abagail lies about it and says that she saw someone else with the devil and everyone plays along to save their own skin. This relates to The Red Scare in 1950 when Joseph McCarthy lied about having a list ofRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Vs. Red Scare1274 Words   |  6 PagesMotter American Literature 7th 31 October 2017 The Salem Witch Trials vs. The Red Scare â€Å"All wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price(Juvenal)†. This quote represents the knowledge that a single human being may have, but may not wish to use in situations. Numerous Historians have marked The Salem Witch Trials and The Red Scare as both Era’s of Hysteria among the people of the U.S, this research will explain the makings of a hystericalRead Moreâ€Å"Red Alert Is The Colour Of Panic. Elevated To The Point1704 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Red alert is the colour of panic Elevated to the point of static Beating into the hearts of the fanatics And the neighborhood s a loaded gun Idle thought lead to full-throttle screaming And the welfare is asphyxiating Mass confusion is all the new age and it s creating a feeding ground for the bottom feeders of hysteria† American Eulogy by Green Day was written and released in 2009 giving their audience the feeling of what it is like to be in the middle of mass hysteria and trying to escape thatRead MoreThe Crucible And Mccarthyism Essay701 Words   |  3 PagesMiller and the trials of the Red Scare were anything but fair. In fact, they were completely unjust and immoral. The Red Scare consisted of Mccarthyism and public panic. Mccarthyism is when â€Å"a campaign or practice that endorses the use of unfair allegations and investigations†(Banes). The Crucible and McCarthyism share many similarities including that the law operated in unfair ways and failed to maintain justice, one person was the root cause of this mass public hysteria and both people lied to protectRead MoreFilm Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace1505 Words   |  7 Pages1950’s Red Scare, a time when America’s â€Å"witches† swapped out their spellbooks and broomsticks for The Communist Manifesto and a daunting combination of hammer and sickle. A society focused on fear causes an outpour of mass hysteria that pollutes positive thought, the negative impacts of which can be seen through the Salem Witch Trials, the 1950’s outbreak of McCarthyism, and the modern stigma against mentally ill individuals. One of the most historically notable instances of mass hysteria was theRead MoreRelationship between McCarthyism, Saudi Arabias War on Witchcraft, Moral Panic that Occured in Christian Nations and the Salem Witch Trials682 Words   |  3 Pagesresemblance to one another. The first topic is McCarthyism which centers on the Red scare in the 1950’s. Second is Saudi Arabia’s War on Witchcraft which is what the name implies an inter-regional hunt for anything witchlike. Third is the Moral Panic that occurred mostly in Christian nations at the time. Fourth and final is The Salem Witch Trials which was in-link to moral panic due to both centering on absurd hysteria amongst a populace. Though many at the time and even now viewed these acts as justRead MoreHow the Red Scare Influence Arthur Millers Book on the Salem Witch Trial630 Words   |  2 PagesAmerica at the time of the settlers, but was he influenced to write this story by the Red Scare of his era? During this time p eriod americans feared for their life. The government was in panic just like the salem witch trials and, Miller was one of the many authors and artists that was attacked for his action during this period. WWII was a major factor in this paranoia and fear. The first major cause of the Red Scare and the fear of communism was WWII. Communism was not a big problem during the warRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials And Mccarthyism782 Words   |  4 Pagesappearance, etc. has been a regular occurrence. We saw it during the Salem Witch Trials, the Red Scare and more recently, in the situation of the Guantanamo Bay prison. Although the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism are differed in the fact that one was based on religion and the other was politically based, both events had striking similarities. In both events, innocent people were accused and mass hysteria was generated through public trials. As I previously mentioned, the Salem Witch Trials andRead MoreWilliam Miller s The Crucible1262 Words   |  6 Pages 1.Participate in the Salem Witch Trials. Write a paragraph response, as the accused, describing your feelings. Salem Witchcraft Hysteria. National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2005. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. As the accused I feel hurt, betray and sorrowful. I have known these people all my life. We have grown up together and now they are believing a group of young girls saying that I am a witch. I don’t understand! I am a good Christian woman. I can not confess to witchcraft