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
Rebellion
Slavery
Indian/African
Sans , NC / February 02, 2024
The Unknown
Change
Anyone that Accepts the Change
Alexandria , Pullman, WA / February 01, 2024
The Truth
The Matrix
Andrew Tate
Zaid , OH / January 30, 2024
Children are being groomed
biased media, greater acceptance and outlets for drag performers
Drag Performers
Jason , OH / January 30, 2024
Anxiety
Scarcity
Innocents and Mass Hysteria
Jasper and Krishna , Singapore / January 2024
Sickness
Covid 19
Anxiety
Layla , KS / January 26, 2024
rebellion
slavery
indian/african
Nathan , PA / January 26, 2024
Judaism overtaking the south
Leo Frank Lynching
Jewish community
Elena , NE / January 26, 2024
Destruction and Rioting
Death of Rodney King
Black Americans
Gracie , KS / January 26, 2024
Loss of control/money
Death of family patriarch
youngest adult child of family, only female, executor
Susan , MI / January 26, 2024
LGBTQ "Groomers"
Biased Media And Illegal Election Practices
Drag Queens And "Woke" Teachers
Jalane , VA / January 26, 2024
Racism
nationwide racism and government fear mongering
Republicans
Anonymous , GA / January 25, 2024
Change
Education
Youth
Helen , CA / January 25, 2024
Suicide
Parents feeling like they're doing a bad job.
DnD
Sav , SC / January 24, 2024
January 6th
Biased Media and Illegal election practices
President Trump
Ryan , VA / January 22, 2024
Racism, Capitalism
Disagreement with Conservative Values
Democrats
Cari , CA / January 22, 2024
Terrorism
9/11
Guantanamo Bay/Xenophobia to Muslims
Amanda , FL / January 2024
Failing Economy
Immigration/Overpopulation
Latino-Americans
Cesar , NY / January 2024
Death
Covid-19
Asian Ethnic Groups
Julius , NY / January 19, 2024
Loss of International Power
Booming Chinese Economy
Chinese Americans
Manal , Netherlands / January 2024
Sex Trafficking
Young Women- 17 And Lower
A Group Of Young School Girls
Ava and Jabari , MA / January 18, 2024
Murder/Manslaughter
Mentally Ill
Innocent People
EM , NY / January 18, 2024
Witches
Illness and Misfortune
Random People
John , Salem / January 17, 2024
Hatred of Asians
Covid-19
Asian People
Anonymous , United States / January 17, 2024
Taxes
The IRS
The Middle Class
WY , NY / January 17, 2024
terrorists
Pearl Harbor
Japanese
Anonymous , US / January 17, 2024
Terrorist Groups, like Al Quaeda
9/11 Terrorist attack
Muslims and middle easterners
Anonymous , New York, NY / January 17, 2024
Witchery
Betty's sickness
Tituba
Anonymous , Salem / January 17, 2024
Hanging
Danforth
Reverend Parris
Anonymous , MA / January 17, 2024
Chinese Muslims
Religion
Human Rights Abuse and Genocide
Matt , NY / January 17, 2024
Death
COVID-19 Pandemic
Anxiety
Disha , NY / January 17, 2024
Terrorism
9/11/2001
Blaming Muslims by expressing islamophobia
Anonymous , United States / January 2024
Infection, Death, or Illness
COVID-19 Pandemic
Anxiety
Anonymous , MA / January 17, 2024
Racism, capitalism
Disagreement with conservative values
Conservatives
Harry , NY / January 15, 2024
Abuser will be found out
Abused person tells a family member
The abused person
Anonymous , USA / January 2024
lying little girls
illiterate adults
innocent people
John , Mass / January 12, 2024
Feeling inferior/powerless
Meeting new societies
Native Americans
Anonymous , VA / January 12, 2024
Sex Trafficking
Young Women- 17 and Lower
A Group of Young School Girls
Ava , Jabari, MA / January 08, 2024
Tylenol
Tylenol laced with fatal drugs
People
Anonymous , Chicago, IL / January 08, 2024
Hunger in German Citizens
The Treaty of Versailles
Jewish people
Adelaide , KY / January 08, 2024
Death
Covid-19 Pandemic
Anxiety
Gabe , NJ / January 03, 2024
Witchcraft
witches
tituba
John , MA / January 03, 2024
God/Devil
Teen suicides, Patricia Pulling, & BADD
DND
Moxie , VA / January 03, 2024
Infection, death, or illness
COVID-19 Pandemic
anxiety
Anonymous , MA / January 02, 2024
Shark population Decreasing
Shark Attacks
sharks and bigger fear of sharks could lead to hunting
Tiara , Clara, NE / January 02, 2024
Witchcraft
Illness
Ann putnam
Ann , MA / December 31, 2023
Ocean
Shark Attacks
Sharks
Ethan , MA / December 2023
Hamas are terrorists
IDF/Netnyahu
Jews
Anonymous , TN / December 26, 2023
Xenophobic
COVID
Chinese-American Population
Ben , MA / December 2023
Rapists
Various Cases of Rape
The Victim's "Foolishness" on "Complying"
Jake , MA / December 23, 2023
Romans
Change
Jews
Ben , NJ / December 21, 2023
Abuse
Ostracims
disability
Gale , CA / December 19, 2023
Terrorism/War
Hamas
Palestinians
Tessa , Middle East / December 19, 2023
rebellion
slavery
indian/Aferican
Anonymous , Leigh, WA / December 19, 2023
Guns/Shootings
Concealed Carry
Republicans
Tessa , Gavin, KY / December 19, 2023
Stealing Land
Greed
Native Americans
Hayden , United States / December 19, 2023
Terrorism war
Hamas
Palestinians
Anonymous , Middle East / December 2023
Israel
Hamas Terrorist Attaack
Jews Worldwide
Maaz Ahsan , VA / December 19, 2023
war conflict
middle east
asian community
Anonymous , VA / December 19, 2023
Death/Illness
Coronavirus Tied To China
Crimes Against Asians
Aliviah , MA / December 13, 2023
Sharks/"Dangerous" Animals
Reports of Shark Attacks
Sharks
Jonah , MA / December 2023
Judaism overtaking the South
Leo Frank Lynching
Jewish Community
Elena Lozada , NE / December 12, 2023
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
Israel
Hamas Terrorist Attack
Jews Worldwide
Alex , OH / November 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
Illness/Covid/Death
Pandemic/Lockdown/Illness
Unvaccinated People
Michele , VA / October 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