Preview

Hysteria Comparison of the Salem Witch Trials and the Holocaust

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1222 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hysteria Comparison of the Salem Witch Trials and the Holocaust
Andria Garza
11/30/12
English
Final Draft
Hysteria comparison of the Salem Witch Trials and the Holocaust

During both the devastating Holocaust in the Germany and the tragic Salem Witch Trials in the small town of Salem, innocent people were brutally killed, causing hysteria among the people. Both groups of people endured hardships because of the hysteria that occurred among them. This hysteria caused people to react in ways that they would not usually act. Both of these events are very historical and help The United States of America be a unified and prosperous country that it has grown to become today. Hysteria is defined as an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping according to the Webster’s Dictionary.
The Holocaust is often defined as the brutal killing of about eleven million innocent people because of a racial prejudice against the Jewish race. This tragic occurrence was conducted by the awful and merciless dictator known as Adolf Hitler. The Jewish people were not the “perfect” race that Adolf Hitler wanted to create. He contradicted himself because not even he fell under the requirements that it took to become this perfect race. The Jewish people, such as ones that were only small babies and the elderly, were inhumanly killed in multiple ways. One example of this brutal killing of the innocent was when small children could be ripped away from their parents to be sent to the work camps that were scattered throughout the country of Germany. These work camps often worked the children so hard that a because of their lack of food and water killed them. This thing that these innocent people endured inside of these ruthless work camps is sometimes unimaginable to the human mind.
The Salem Witch Trials took place in the little town of Salem. These events were sparked by a group of adolescent girls who were caught dancing in a forest and supposedly conjuring spirits. Witchcraft was very much



Cited: "Effects of World War II." Www2.sunysuffolk.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. Jewish Life during the Holocaust." Www.jfedpgh.org. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012 Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print. "Religious Persecution and Its Impact: The Holocaust." Msbyrneatalex.edublogs.org. N.p., 12 Nov.  2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Every one in a while, America erupts into mass hysteria because of the ranting of some crazy people. In the 1600's, we had the Salem witch trials, and as described in the book, "The Crucible", a group of girls falsely accuse their neighbors of witchcraft, and regular, innocent people are hung. Then, in the 1950's, a man named Joseph McCarthy sparked a craze of accusing people, mainly government officials, of being communist, thus scarring their careers. The McCarthy hearing are similar to the Salem witch hunt because the accuser exaggerates and fabricates evidence, the accused are used as scapegoats for society's problems, and McCarthy and the Salem girls use the accusations to obtain power.…

    • 889 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Trials began soon after a few young girls living in Salem began throwing unexplainable and spontaneous tantrums that consisted of sudden falling, screaming and crying in agony, and a loss of voice. After the girls had been questioned by their parents and the town’s judges and ministers to give an explanation for their demeanor, they were soon to hold three women responsible for acts of witchcraft. Witchcraft had been made a capital crime following the town’s establishment, which meant that the courts would press the alleged witches. Soon after, more girls began having episodes, which also meant that more were being accused, imprisoned, and killed. As the Trials moved on, more respected citizens were being punished, suspicions began to develop, and it was decided by the Boston pressure Governor Phips to no longer recognize spectral evidence, release those who were currently imprisoned, and end the Trials.…

    • 818 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Holocaust is perhaps one of the most gruesome events that has ever taken place. Adolf Hitler was the mastermind behind the systematic, bureaucratic, and barbaric persecution that murdered six million Jews for no reason. When he became leader he had only one mission and that was to have an exceptional race and he would do everything to achieve it. The Nazis who came into power in Germany in January 1933, believed that Germans were racially superior and that the Jews were inferior and posed as a threat to the German community. Adolf and his “loyal” followers managed to instill fear in many Jews causing many to flee to safer havens. Other that weren’t as lucky fell into the hands of that Nazi regime. Those Jews that were persecuted and captured…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    All starting in June, 1692, the Salem Witch Trial hysteria was a period when people were constantly being accused of witchcraft. A witch is someone who is taken over by the devil and portrays the actions of the creature. This mainly happened to women. Historians are still trying to figure out why people would accuse others of witchcraft. Some think it was because of the paranoia from the Native American raids. Hallucinogens were also another suggestion. Historians were left with some clues of what caused the Salem Witch Trial hysteria.…

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mass Hysteria played a role in both the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy hearings affecting the outcome of those who were accused. The dictionary defines Mass Hysteria as a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behavior or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness. In The Salem Witch Trials Abigail Williams proposed that Elizabeth Proctor is a witch and other girls follow with that accusation believing Abigail. In The McCarthy hearings Joseph McCarthy using his power as a Political leader convincing many people of being associated with communism. Due to these points mass hysteria played a role in both the Salem…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sydney Wells Wood 1A English Honors 3 November 30, 2017 The Crucible “Arthur Miller.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 22 Mar. 2017 www.biogrophy.com/people/Arthur-Miller-9408335 The author of this article, Arthur Miller who was born in Harlem, New York. During the year 1915, Arthur attended the University of Michigan. Arthur Miller moved back east to write plays such as “Death Of A Salesman” and “The Crucible”.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Holocaust: Germany Adolf

    • 1672 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Holocaust was a devastating time in history that took many lives and changed a lot of people’s outlooks on life itself. The Holocaust started on January 30, 1933, when Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany, and it ended on May 8, 1945 when the war in Europe ended. During the Holocaust approximately 5,860,000 Jews lost their lives, which include children also. Many Jewish communities suffered significant losses during the Holocaust. Also, it is estimated that the Nazis established approximately 15,000 camps in their occupied territories. The Holocaust was a time period of death and racism; it involved the power and the powerless. Families, friends, and communities were separated and killed; some Jews made it but many died. This huge epidemic involved the mass murder of children, adults, and even the elderly. Due to the levels of power and strength, the Nazis easily took over and the Holocaust began (Rosenberg).…

    • 1672 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Holocaust was a colossal systematic extermination and murder of about 6 million Jews in Eastern Europe under the criminal hands of Nazis and SS troops during World War II. It started from 1933 and ended in 1945, when the war in Europe finally ended. The whole genocide was organized methodically by the leader of Germany at the time, Adolf Hitler. His command of the operation quickly sprung to action after procedures took place. At first Jews were persecuted, stolen of their citizenship, then moved into ghettos, and quickly into concentration camps. The evil plot developed and grew and what started out as hatred turned into a scheme of mass murder. The resources that portray the critical themes in the Holocaust are “Night”, “Nuremberg Trials”, and “Schindler’s List.”…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In 1933, almost six million humans were starved, beaten, trapped, tortured and forced to work in Germany. For 12 years, the Jewish, homosexuals, gypsies, communists and the mentally ill were forced to stay in concentration camps. Inside they faced disease and death. This was the Holocaust. This was the world’s largest genocide. Created by Adolf Hitler in 1933, The Holocaust held the people who didn't match his standards, such as people who didn't have blonde hair and blue eyes and the Jewish. The concentration camps held bizarre and disturbing experiments. During the Holocausts, concentration camps were used to hold the detained prisoners, inside were disgusting and horrifying tests on the innocent.…

    • 111 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Salem Witch Trials brought a lot of bad consequences when they misjudge a lot of people in Salem, Massachusetts when they were all in fear of something they didn't know what it was . Even though the lesson from the Salem Witch Trials about the mass hysteria it's still repeated in modern times . People let their fear or panic take over their decision in life . When people are scared they don't tend to stop and think about their decisions and just go with what they think is right ,even when they are wrong.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Holocaust:An Introductory History." An Introductory History of the Holocaust. Holocaust Memorial Center, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. .…

    • 2656 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Holocaust

    • 3661 Words
    • 15 Pages

    What is the first thing that comes to mind when World War II is mentioned? The typical response will most likely always be Hitler and his cruelty toward Jews. What is strange about this answer is the fact that the majority of people do not realize what actually occurred in Europe during this time. To most people, the Holocaust was an event where many Jews were killed by Nazis. (www.ushmm.org) In fact, the Holocaust was a tragic point in history which many believe never occurred, or do not realize the suffering behind the widespread destruction. The pain and conditions experienced by the victims is unimaginable by any standards. (spicenter.org) In the early 1930’s, Eastern Europe was on the verge of power, and in a small western European country called Germany, trouble was occurring. In 1933, Europeans had no worries beyond their daily struggle to earn money, put food on their family 's table, and clothes on their children 's backs. This would all change in a matter of months. Whatever type of life a person had built for themselves, it was all to come to a crashing down, if they did not conform to Hitler’s specifications. (www.ushmm.org)…

    • 3661 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The holocaust was a time of great sorrow for the Jews and other religious groups. The Nazis, along with German armies were responsible for the starting of this horrific event which was one of the most tragic events in history.…

    • 1785 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Hitler vs Stalin

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How is evil measured? One of the most discussed topics of the century has been the contrast between the command of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Both leaders have had a massive impact not only in their country’s history, but also in society itself. Hitler and Stalin wanted to obtain the well-being of their country and people, but it is their attempt to achieve this victory is what truly made history. Their tactics ranged from concentration camps to mass murders and wars. Both have an endless list of crimes to their name, yet there are numerous factors to consider when determining who was worse.…

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    History Essay

    • 1852 Words
    • 8 Pages

    [ 3 ]. F. Coetzee and M. Shevin-Coetzee, The Worl in Flames: A World War II Source Book, New York, Oxford University Press., 2010, p. 410.…

    • 1852 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays