What is a witch-hunt? When studying the history of witchcraft, it is important to understand that witchcraft was a crime created and imposed on innocent people. No individual actually had the power to cause hailstorms, spread mass disease, or fly through the night to a gathering of evil beings. This was a crime imposed on innocent people during times of mass fear and hysteria. While the legal prosecution of witchcraft came to an end in the eighteenth century, the pattern of behavior that caused witch-hunts can be identified throughout history and in the modern day.
The Salem Witch Museum’s mission is to be the voice of the innocent victims of the witch-hunt of 1692, while also bringing awareness to the root cause of witch-hunts and how they continue to impact our society today. In our second exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, we present a formula that can be used to describe the pattern of behavior responsible for sparking witch-hunts, with examples from 1692 through the twentieth-century.
This formula is “fear + a trigger = a scapegoat.”
A scapegoat is defined as a person who is unfairly or irrationally the object of blame.
Over the years, many of our visitors have made suggestions to our staff, offering examples of what they feel qualify as an instance of a witch-hunt. There are so many examples of witch-hunts that have taken place throughout history, that we couldn’t highlight all of these suggestions in our exhibit. Since August 2017, we have been asking our visitors to fill out this formula with examples they believe fit this pattern, and to submit these suggestions to our museum. This webpage is a place to share these examples. Within this project, our Department of Education is currently actively imputing and updating these pages so as to display as many submissions as we are given, in their entirety, without alteration or interpretation.
The goal of this project is to give our public a voice to interact with the concept of a witch-hunt. Please note, the views and opinions expressed on the witch-hunt website are those of our visitors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Salem Witch Museum.
You may view these examples month to month, or thematically by scapegoat. If you wish to add a submission, please enter your example into the blank spaces below.
Search Witch Hunts by Date
Submissions may be viewed month to month by selecting a date below.
Fear
Trigger
Scapegoat
Guns/shootings
Concealed Carry
Republicans
Gavin , KY / December 06, 2023
Death/Illness
Coronavirus tied to China
Crimes against Asians
Wendy , NY / November 2023
Music affecting kids
Gangster activity
Black people
Obama , CO / December 2023
"Antifa"
Trump's Big Lie/Jan 6 Attack
Political Opponents
Jalane , VA / December 2023
LGBTQ "groomers"
Changing cultural norms
Drag Queens and "Woke" Teachers
Jalane , VA / December 2023
Shark population decreasing
Shark attacks
People having a bigger fear of sharks could lead to hunting to "keep the area safe"
Clara , NE / December 04, 2023
guns
school shootings
mental illness
Tiana and Malia , MA / December 01, 2023
Guns/Shootings
Concealed Carry
Republicans
Brooke , LA / November 2023
Another persecution of Jews in Europe
Uprise of right wing parties / Painting Star of David on Houses occupied by Jews
Jews
WMK , Europe / November 30, 2023
Getting job opportunities taken and losing German culture
Migrant crisis
Immigrants and refugees
Mia , Germany / November 30, 2023
Espionage and affair
Russian revolution 1917
Rasputin
Artur , Russia / November 30, 2023
not being able to reproduce or have control
women becoming independent
women
Arin , / November 29, 2023
Sex trafficking
young women -17 and lower
a group of young school girls
Jabari , MA / November 29, 2023
Judaism
Land
Jewish People
Catherine , CT / November 29, 2023
Terrorism/War
Hamas
Palestinians
Luc , Middle East / November 29, 2023
Loss of family dynamics
Hysterical ideas of politicians
Transgender individuals
Dante , NH / November 2023
Pedophilia
Qanon
Liberal/Progressive Politicians
Luuk , Netherlands / November 2023
Rebellion
Slavery
Indians/Africans
Leigh , WA / November 26, 2023
China
Covid-19
Asian Americans
Erin , MA / November 2023
Infection, Death, or Illness
Covid-19 Pandemic
Anxiety
Alvarado Family , NJ / November 2023
Apocalypse, hell, eternal damnation, god, pain, death and suffering, magic, peculiar forces and paranormal
Scientifically explainable phenomena, lack of knowledge, deep religion, belief in magic and superstitions
Science, atheism, sinners, culture and progressivism, technology, apparent witchcraft
Zuzanna , Rotherham / November 25, 2023
Loss of WWI Germany
Economic Turmoil
Jews
Angela , TN / November 2023
Oppressions
Boredom
White Heterosexual Christians
Clark , MA / November 2023
Regress/Loss of Progress
Social Media
Opinion Challenging Mainstream, Liberal Thought
Key , MA / November 2023
Sexuality
Public Acknowledgment
GLTB Community Rights
Mark , MA / November 2023
Hamas
October 7, 2023
Palestinian people
Sonha , CA / November 2023
Violence/Crime
Poverty
Black People
Alie , PA / November 2023
technology
chatgpt
all AI
matthew , MA / November 20, 2023
War/Conflict
Middle East/Religions
Jewish People
Scott , USA / October 2023
Hurting themselves or others
Misused charity
Homeless people
Aesyn , Cities / November 18, 2023
Guns
School Shootings
Mental Illness
Tiana and Malia , MA / November 17, 2023
Hispanics
improving the economic situation
Mexicans
Anonymous , TX / November 17, 2023
“Others” that are not understood
Republican Members of Congress
Trans People, especially women
Hazel , ND / November 16, 2023
Sexism
Harrassment
Gender Related Challenges
Anonymous , WA / November 16, 2023
pandemic
covid
asian community
colton , MA / November 15, 2023
Violence/Exposure
"Violent" Lyrics
Rock Bands
Kyle , MA / November 15, 2023
American Outsourcing of Jobs
People Searching For Better Future
Immigrants
VALERIA , McAllen TX / November 14, 2023
Joe biden going in office
Electoral college counting for his presidency
Trump
Liam , Washington DC / November 14, 2023
rich people
helping the under developed
Mr. Beast
Max , MA / November 14, 2023
guns
shootings
mental illness
devon , MN / November 14, 2023
police interaction
bad cops
every cop in existence(even good )
cajun , US / November 14, 2023
Ocean
Shark Attacks
Sharks
Ethan , ma / November 13, 2023
guns
shootings
mental illness
Harry , United States / November 13, 2023
Child Abuse
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Parents
Anonymous , United States / November 11, 2023
Violence
War in Gaza
Jewish people
Anonymous , New Jersey / November 11, 2023
under representation of Americans in the government
The average age of senators is double the average age of Americans
The old people in the government
Anonymous , US / November 11, 2023
WWI
Treaty of Versailles
German people
H Wald , Pa / November 09, 2023
Bad Luck
Superstitions
Black Cats
Hsaoli , MA / November 09, 2023
Gay People
Being attracted to same sex
RuPaul
Trump , USA / November 09, 2023
communism
american democratic party
biden
Anonymous , mi / November 09, 2023
"They're Taking Our Jobs"
Immigrants
Democrates
Mary , MA / November 09, 2023
Muslims
Brazen Zionism
Gaza People
Anonymous , MA / October 2023
Islam/Muslims
Israeli Propaganda
Palestine genocide
Anonymous , MA / October 2023
Anti-Semitism
Israel
Palestinians
Anonymous , MA / November 2023
9/11
extremists
Muslim community
janicequanve , queens / November 02, 2023
Getting sick
Covid 19
Chinese people
Jaquise , Oak street / November 02, 2023
Infection
aids
gay community
john , Delaware MA / November 02, 2023
dying of covid
covid
Chinese people
Carl , new york queens / November 02, 2023
Losing money
Getting fired
Manger
Bobby , Queens, New York / November 02, 2023
covid 19
dying
Chinese
xiao , queens / November 02, 2023
republicans
trump
democrats
Donald , MA / November 01, 2023
witches
people in power
innocent people
Anonymous , MA / November 01, 2023
guns
shootings
mental illness
trevor , PA / November 01, 2023
racism
slavery
southerners
ivy , NC / November 01, 2023
government falling
protests
minorities
Alicia , OH / November 01, 2023
China
Covid-19
Asian Americans
Erin , MA / October 2023
Guns
School/Mass shootings
NRA/Gun owners
Gavin , MO / October 31, 2023
Violence in Youth
Rise in youth crimes
Video Games
Hawk , USA / October 30, 2023
Little Children
Falling Kids
Gorillas
Matty , PA / October 30, 2023
ocean
sharkbite
shark
Daniella , MD / October 30, 2023
Perceived gender normativity
Misunderstanding of biological and social identities
Cosmetic surgeries related to gender
Mickey , PA / October 30, 2023
He will expose them
popularity
Donald J. Trump
Gary , SC / September 2023
Terrorism
9/11
all middle eastern people
Cali , OHIO / October 29, 2023
Witches
Witches have black cats
Black Cats
Jacob , TX / October 29, 2023
A man having a bad Relationship with a women
His mother
his wife/Girlfriend
anonymous , Ma / October 29, 2023
coronavirus
Death/Lockdown/Closures
asian community
Anonymous , De / October 28, 2023
Criminals
Neoliberalism/Maintaining Power
Marginalized Communities
Doriana , Canada / October 2023
Not getting into college
Affirmative action
POC
Marisa , MA / October 2023
Sexual Assault
Gender Neutral
Trans People
Marisa , CA / October 2023
COVID
Pandemic
Chinese Americans
Marisa , CA / October 2023
decline of mental health in the united states
social media/ cost of living
technology/ cell phones
Emmanuel , North carolina / October 25, 2023
“They’re taking our jobs”
Immigrants
Democrats
Mary , MA / October 24, 2023
Corna virus
Deaths lockdowns
Asian community
Alexa , DE / October 23, 2023
Terrorism
Hamas attacks
Palestinians
Lewis , Gaza / October 23, 2023
Overpopulation
Migrant Boats Into The UK
African/Eastern Europea Refugees
Tetiana , NC / October 22, 2023
Loss of Traditional Values
Fox News/Caitlyn Jenner
Trans Community
Mike and Anna , NY / October 2023
The Holocaust
Antisemitism
Jewish Community
Jordan , New York / October 20, 2023
guns
shootings
mental illness
devon , Slaydon, MN / October 20, 2023
Republicans
Donald Trump
Russian Cohersion
James , RI / October 2023
Dissolution of traditional ideas
Misogyny
Taylor Swift and other successful women
Anthony , NJ / October 2023
communist
small amount of people helping communist
the American people
Audrey , TX / October 19, 2023
Incompetent people in office
kamala harris
liberals
Caigan , US / October 2023
war
Israel and hamas
U.S.
Ethan , MO / October 19, 2023
America
Liberal Extremism
Trump
Nicky , NYC / October 19, 2023
Stealing land
Greed and ignorance
Natives
Anonymous , The United States / October 18, 2023
conservative government
republican ideals and facts
trump
kaedyn , mo / October 18, 2023
Music affecting kids
Gangster activity
Black people
Kiral , USA / October 18, 2023
Poverty
Recession
Homeless People
Kate , Canada / October 2023
LGBTQ+ growing
democrates
LGBTQ+ and Democrats
Brayden , PA / October 17, 2023
losing white privilege status
QAnon
Jews
Anonymous , USA / October 17, 2023
Gang Related Shooting
Death/Dangerous Neighborhoods
African American Community
Fabian , Queens / October 17, 2023
covid
death
Chinese people
Anthony , queens / October 17, 2023
Crime
Black People on the news
Black People
Mike , Queens, NY / October 17, 2023
Loss of human Domination of earth
Great Martian War 1907
Martian Immigrants
Afizah , New York / October 16, 2023
Personal rights
Racism
Anyone different
Giovanna , Africa / October 15, 2023
Challenging flawed belief set
Hamas attacks on Israel seen in the media
Jews
Hillary , MA / October 15, 2023
Guns
Officer brutality
Black people
Paris , DE / October 15, 2023
Conservatism
Democrat Controlled Media
Donald Trump
Robert , CT / October 2023
English settlers
Hunger for money
the natives
Anonymous , USA / October 13, 2023
Religious violence
Civil war between Parliament and the Crown in the Sixteenth-century
The people that live in England
Jose , WA / October 13, 2023
Enslavement
English Colonizers
Native Americans
Daetrion , WA / October 13, 2023
Diseas'
Loss of Land
Indigenous People
Emily , USA, Mexico / October 12, 2023
The Spainards
Lust For Gold
The Native Americans
Jamaree , WA / October 12, 2023
Losing loved ones
Losing that one person
mental health
Alissa , New York / October 12, 2023
Racism
Slavery
African Americans
Mason , Wa / October 11, 2023
They have more than me
Egoism
Anyone Different
Serenity , PA / October 11, 2023
Witches
Witches have black cats
Black cats
Marek , SD / October 2023
Immigrants
The rise in arrivals
Biden
Valerie , TX / October 2023
Mass Shootings
Mental Illness
Guns
Anonymous , MA / October 2023
Slavery
Columbian Exchange
Black People
Anonymous , PT / October 10, 2023
Racism/ segregation
Slavery
African Americans
Trevon , WA / October 10, 2023
robots
AI
Elon Musk
Anonymous , TX / October 2023
Losing employment
The Great Depression
Mexicans
Mayca , WA / October 2023
guns
shootings
mental illness
Anonymous , MN / October 2023
Arrival of Reverend Francis Le Jau
impact of slave trade
minorities
Anonymous , Charles Town, Carolina / October 09, 2023
Job Loss and Unemployment
Immigration
Immigrants
Anonymous , MA / October 2023
Catholics gaining power
Religious Differences
Catholics
Lindsey , England / October 07, 2023
Police Brutality
George Floyd
Police
George , USA / October 07, 2023
Contagion
Vaccines
Freedom Of Choice
El , Italy / October 07, 2023
Homework
Anxiety
Teachers
Heidi , West Virginia / October 05, 2023
Infection
COVID
Firing Unvaccinated
Shellie , TX / October 2023
Satan/Religious Beliefs
Satanic Panic
People who are different/Satanist
Giovanna , Wa / October 03, 2023
Decline of mental health in the U.S.
Social Media/Cost of Living
Local and Federal Gov't
Anonymous , NY / October 2023
Racism
Slavery
Southerners
Jennifer , SC / October 03, 2023
Terrorist Attacks
911 Attack
American Muslims
Gary , CA / October 03, 2023
Coranavirus
Death/Lockdown/Closures
Asian Community
R.G. , U.S. / October 03, 2023
Offending people
overly sensitive people
Conservatives and republicans
Sabel , Houston / October 02, 2023
body fat
thin influencers/peers
yourself for not looking like the small handful of mildly thin people
Ellie , MI / October 02, 2023
Guns
Shootings
Mental Illness
Slaydon , MN / October 02, 2023
Republicans
trump
democrats
Anonymous , Washington DC / October 01, 2023
Loss of Democracy
MAGA Republicans
President Trump
Paul , MA / October 2023
Covid-19
Wuhan Labs
The chinese
Abbigail , PA / September 2023
Coronavirus
Deaths/Lockdown/Closures
Asian Community
Gerry , CA / September 2023
Covid
Trump
Asians
Anon , MA / September 2023
Protecting Children
Misunderstanding of trans people
Transgender Community
Anonymous , MA / September 2023
Democracy
Trump winning a free and fair election for president
Civil Liberty
Ryan , PA / September 26, 2023
SEX TRAFFICING
NOT ENOUGH HELP
FBI
HOLLY , MA / September 26, 2023
gain weight
being indoctrinated by the mdiea to base self worth
fat humans who have the audacity to exist
Henry , MI / September 26, 2023
Pandemic
arrival of covid pandemic
asians
Su , Latoff, UK / September 26, 2023
They have more than me
Egoism
Anyone different
Julie , Ireland / September 26, 2023
Overpopulation
Migrant Boats Into the UK
African/Eastern European Refugees
Jilly , MI / September 26, 2023
Fentanyl
Hurting Society
Homeless People
Efren , AZ / September 26, 2023
Covid
Isolation
Americans
Iva , KY / September 2023
republicans
trump
democrats
Trump , USA / September 25, 2023
Incompetent people in office
Kamala Harris not being able to form a coherent sentence
Liberals
Bob , MA / September 24, 2023
Losing Lover
Homophobia
Rape Victims
Alianah , NV / September 23, 2023
Being associated with an abusive person, removing the illusion of "goodness"
Person is accused of domestic abuse
The victim of the abuse
DJ , WA / September 22, 2023
Loss of freedom
Extreme political ideology (all or nothing)
Every day people
Jenny , IA / September 22, 2023
Christians
Conservatives
White Males
James , MA / September 2023
Abolition of the Third Estate
Aristocratic Conspiracy
French Monarchy
French , France / September 20, 2023
Conservative Government
Republican ideals and facts
Trump
Renee , NJ / September 18, 2023
Loss of Human domination of Earth
Great Martian war 1907
Martian Immigrants
Ben , England / September 12, 2023
Satan/religious beliefs
Satanic panic
People who are different/alternative Satanist
Violet , UK / September 12, 2023
Having to admit that you may have privilege in certain areas
Marginalized people fighting for socio-economic equality
Using “woke” as a pejorative to diminish anyone who advocates for socio-economic change
Miranda , VT / September 11, 2023
Being emasculated
Far too many triggers to list in this little box
Any person/group of people that a man can overpower
Miranda , VT / September 11, 2023
Gaining weight
Being indoctrinated by the media to base self worth on your size
Fat humans who have the audacity to exist in their bodies without shame
Miranda , VT / September 11, 2023
Liberalism
Fox News
Every Democrat
Trevor , NYC / September 2023
Jews and Northern industrialism
Murder of Mary Phagan
Lynching of Leo Frank (1915)
Morgan , Bloomington, IL / September 01, 2023
Immigration(new immigrants)
ww1/ww2
german americans
Alfred , TN / September 01, 2023
Overpopulation
Migrant Boats into the UK
African/Eastern European Refugees
Anonymous , UK / August 2023
Loss of Control by White Men
Rise of MAGA Conservatism
Librarians and School Teachers
Alyson , PA / August 2023
Protection of Children
The Misunderstanding of Trans People
Transgender Community
Anonymous , MA / August 2023
People
Greed
Witches
Indra , Canada / August 2023
Shifting traditional family values
New wave of transgender young people
trans families and doctors
Peggy , MA / August 2023
Pandemic
Arrival of Covid Pandemic
Asians
Latoff , UK / August 2023
Arabs/Musilms
9/11/2001
Arab Americans
Christopher , MA / August 2023
End of white supremacy
Implementation of DEI policies
Educators, librarians, democratic politicians
Vicki , MD / August 29, 2023
Prejudice
State Policy
Extermination of Jews of Europe
Joey , NY / August 2023
Losing Democracy
Trump
Liberals
T , MA / August 2023
Disease
Covid
Chinese
Clare , NY / August 2023
Donald Trump
J6
Protestors Arrested
Ted , MA / August 2023
Loneliness
Women calling out toxic bs
empowered/educated women
Karime , MA / August 2023
Leftist Indoctrination
Republicans Losing Popularity
Librarians & Educators
Julie , FL / August 2023
Climate Action
People of Color
Women and "Woke Culture"
Anonymous , MA / August 2023
Illness
Vaccine Conspiracy
Neurodivergent People
Theo , IN / August 2023
War
9/11
Muslim Community
Theo , IN / August 2023
China
COVID
Asian Community
Wei , MA / August 2023
Death
COVID
Unvaccinated
Anonymous , MA / August 2023
Not Feeling Safe
Too Many Homeless
California
Catie , Santa Monica, CA / August 2023
"Groomers"
The idea of the trans/LGBT "groomer" (i.e. pedophile)
LGBT people, particularly trans people
Logan , CT / August 14, 2023
Transphobia
Furthering of Trans Rights
Demonizing Trans People
Drew , NJ / August 2023
Knowldege
Child Predators
Teachers
Jenn F. , Indianapolis, IN / August 2023
National Security being breached during WWII
Discovering actual spies
Japanese Internment
Kate , OH / August 2023
Woman having control over their own bodies’
Roe vs. Wade
Women’s Rights
C , NC / August 2023
"corrupting children's minds"
sensitive parts of history
education
angela , PA / August 2023
pandemic
covid
bats
gigi , NY / August 2023
Trump for President
Lying Democrats/Government
TRUMP
Anonymous , Greenfield MA / August 11, 2023
Acceptance of LGBT People
Bigoted and Facist Republicans and Conservatives
Trans Kids
Anon , Washington Xing PA / August 11, 2023
Women Gaining Power
Abortion rights
Women
Rev. Leigh , MA / August 2023
Covid
Trump
Chinese/Asian People
Edward , NH / August 2023