Those accused often lost their property and good name in the town.
Those accused were assumed guilty (Sarah Osborn, Elizabeth & John Proctor, Martha Corey, Rebeca Nurse, etc.)
Witchcraft was an “invisible crime.”
Trials ended because more and more upstanding people in the village were accused and refused to confess.
Trials were marked by relentless questioning, presumption of guilt, acceptance of flimsy evidence, and stubborn insistence on the validity and power of the proceedings.
To be found “innocent”, the defendant had to confess and then name names of others who were witches.
People became afraid to speak out against the trials or challenge the authority of the court for fear of being labeled a witch.
Witches were seen as criminals.
Judge Danforth believed in the authority of his court.
In Puritan society, the enemy was the devil and witches were feared because they threatened their pure and godly society
Ministers were seen as the experts and were trusted to find and stop the practice of witchcraft.
19 people were hanged, several died in jail, and one was pressed to death. Over 150 others spent time in prison.
Irrational fear overrode reason.
People became afraid to speak out against the trials or even criticize the government for fear of being labeled a communist.
Trials were marked by relentless questioning, presumption of guilt, acceptance of flimsy evidence, and stubborn insistence on the validity and power of the proceedings.
Those who practiced Communism were seen as treasonous
Trials ended in part because Senator Joseph McCarthy accused the Secretary of the Navy of sheltering Communist spies. McCarthy was censured by the Senate and his influence declined.
Communism was seen as an evil and dangerous force because it threatened the American way of life (democracy, capitalism, etc.).
Irrational fear overrode reason.
To be found “innocent”, the defendant had to confess and then name names of others who were communists.
Senator Joseph McCarthy believed in both his and the House of Un-American Activities Committee’s (HUAC) authority.
Those accused were assumed guilty (actors, producers, screenwriters, etc., including Arthur Miller himself)
The Hollywood Ten spent time in jail; Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of spying for the Soviet Union (treason) and were executed; thousands of others were blacklisted.
Communism was a political belief.
The FBI and U.S. Secret Service were trusted to find Communist spies.
Those accused were often blacklisted (loss of job, influence, etc.; sometimes they even had to leave the country.)
