Throughout human history, the misapplication of power and the corruption of souls have been a part of life. How does this affect us, why does it happen? Human emotions play a large role in prejudice, and the politics surrounding it are evident in today's society. Many things can define persecution. No matter how it is defined, it is a tragic event. About three hundred years ago, the Salem witch trials were a hot topic. Two young girls falsely accused a slave, Tituba, of witchcraft. Soon insensitive accusations flew and the joke became a sad, sad reality. Fearing punishment, the two girls continued the charade. The Puritan religion had no way to publicly admit their sins and the things they regret. For this reason, the trials played the role of an outlet for society's doubts. They had a way to express their feelings without being reprimanded. This anti-witch hysteria caused innocent people to die to the cry of others. In fear of being victims themselves, people accused others of befriending the devil. Hoping to eventually shift the focus of the investigation elsewhere, many followed this unfortunate path. Hatred, denial, fear, perhaps even shock, were all driving factors behind citizens' actions. Ultimately, nearly two dozen innocent men and women were hanged, and hundreds were charged or imprisoned. Moving on to a more recent incident, the "Red Scare" of the 1950s is a modern example of how a sophisticated people could be brought to such a level. low. Wanting to attract public attention, McCarthy launched a massive anti-Soviet campaign. The search for people who worked among us and who believed in communist ideas or someone who might know such a person became commonplace. The campaign itself was based on non-existent claims that some civil servants were communists. Senator McCarthy's "proof" was never seen by anyone, further suggesting that his claims were little more than an attempt to intensify his political power base. Taking advantage of public opinions about the communist system of the Soviet Republic, McCarthy actually became an influential power in the United States Senate. To gain support, he and Abby fed on the concerns of the general population. They had both gone from being a nobody, someone who had little control over anyone else but himself, to someone who could control anyone he wanted. Like Abigail in "The Crucible", his grip on the situation soon crumbled leaving him disgraced.