The Salem Witch Trials Relate To The Holocaust

How does The Salem Witch Trials relate to The Holocaust? In both situations people were

persecuted because of what one person said or thought. In both The Holocaust and The Salem

Witch Trials the reader will see that people are executed for one or more persons beliefs as well.

People were persecuted and executed because the people doing the persecuting and executing

believed they were doing the right thing.

During The Salem Witch Trials of 1692, over 100 people were either jailed or executed

(History.com Staff). All for the charge of witchcraft. The hysteria all started with a group of girls

through hysteria grew and spread through the whole town. Hung in 1692 was Bridget Bishop, the

first convicted and executed of witchcraft (History.com

Staff). The mass hysteria became so bad

that even outstanding citizens of the town were being persecuted and hung. Citizens such as

Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey (History.com Staff). Eventually the trials ended when public

opinion turned. People began to stop confessing to the charge of witchcraft (History.com Staff).

Even though the trials stopped, the trials will remain a part of history.

The Holocaust began with one belief. The belief that certain races are inferior and should

be eradicated. This belief was all started by and idea from Adolf Hitler (History.com Staff). This

belief eventually led to the persecution and execution of over six million jews and other minority

groups (History.com Staff). At first the minority groups were put internment camps or ghettos (

History.com Staff). They were kept in the ghettos away from the citizens while Hitler’s advisors

worked on a “final solution” ( History.com Staff). The “final solution” , created by Herman

Goering, was mass genocide (History.com Staff). The first of which started at the internment

camp of Belzec ( History.com Staff). The Germans used gas chambers as means of execution.

Executions went on at five camps. Chelmno, Sobibor, Treblinka, Madjdaek, and Auschwitz-

Birkenam were the five internment camp ( History.com Staff). Auschwitz-Birkenam was the

largest of all (History.com Staff).

Twelve thousand people were being killed every day in 1942

(History.com Staff). Over two million people were killed at Auschwitz in a process resembling a

large scale industrial operation. All of which started from one person’s idea.

In both The Salem Witch Trials and The Holocaust people were executed and persecuted.

Persecuted and executed because of ideas that started with one person and grew to infect others.

In the Salem Witch Trials Abigail Williams had the entire town believing whatever she said

(Mayo). During The Holocaust, Adolf Hitler had all of Germany believing whatever he told them

(Mayo). Both Abigail and Hitler set themselves as judge, jury, and executioner. The accused

anyone who had afflicted them in one way or another.

In conclusion, The Salem Witch Trials and The Holocaust may be different, but they are

very much similar. During both instances people were influenced by ideas and beliefs. People

were persecuted and/or killed all because of one person or a group of people. Hysteria took hold

of people in both instances and caused them to destroy lives of others. So, even though the

instances are different, they are shockingly

similar.