Witch-Hunts in American History!

Alvin Sherman Library, Second Floor Gallery

Throughout American history, specific individuals and/or groups have been branded by those in power as evil—judged to be so great of a threat to the public good that extreme, even violent, acts of suppression by the government or private citizens are justified. Ironically, over time, the judgment of history often reverses the picture, branding those in power as evil and the oppressed individuals/groups as good people wrongfully victimized. This talk will explore the dynamics underlying witch-hunts, probing the origins, content, and effects of specific historical witch-hunts, as well as the evolving verdict of history about these events.