* Happened in the late 1600s in Salem, Massachusetts
* Prompted by accusations of witchcraft against several women, some of whom were eventually hanged
* Based on superstition, fear, and religious hysteria
* Led to the deaths of 20 people
* Ended when the governor of Massachusetts ordered the release of all accused witches
McCarthyism
* Happened in the 1950s in the United States
* Prompted by accusations of communism against thousands of people, many of whom were eventually blacklisted
* Based on fear of communism and the perceived threat it posed to the United States
* Led to the destruction of careers and lives
* Ended when Senator Joseph McCarthy was discredited and censured by the Senate
Key Differences:
* The Salem witch trials were based on superstition and fear, while McCarthyism was based on political ideology.
* The Salem witch trials resulted in the deaths of innocent people, while McCarthyism resulted in the blacklisting of innocent people.
* The Salem witch trials ended when the governor of Massachusetts ordered the release of all accused witches, while McCarthyism ended when Senator Joseph McCarthy was discredited and censured by the Senate.