Children have the power to determine someone's fate in life. In 1692, children accused the innocent of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials and in 1984 children made accusations of sexual abuse. The innocent faced jail time and those accused of witchcraft were hung. The Fells Acre Day Care Center was a case similar to the Crucible where the innocent where accused, accusations were made with little to no evidence, and the innocent were killed.
1692 was one of the darkest years in U.S history. It took place in Salem Massachusetts. 19 people were hung, one was pressed to death by stone(Sutter 1). They were killed due to their believed affiliation with the the devil. Killed with little to no evidence, the only evidence was made from minors. …show more content…
After being arrested, federal authorities questioned the children. They all had the same responses regarding they received some sort of sexual abuse from Gerald, mother Violet, and sister Cheryl. Police eventually arrested them and the daycare was closed in 1984. Accusations are defined as claims that someone has done something wrong or illegal; therefore, they have to be proven. During the trials the only set of evidence they used as proof were child testimonies. Children from ages 3 to 7 are still figuring out the difference between fantasy and reality. They create imaginary worlds in their play(Hartwell-Walker). This was due to the hysteria. The fear the people lived in on a daily basis was so strong, so powerful everyone was a suspecting one of the trials, a child was being questioned about where she was touched and if pictures were taken of her genitalia. She denied every claim and said she was not sexualy abused. Also during the trial, a boy told how he was tied to a tree naked in the schoolyard in front of teachers and students. Teachers and students denied the allegations and Amiraults were found guilty(Pendergrast). Children relaying false information, seems like history is repeating
1692 was one of the darkest years in U.S history. It took place in Salem Massachusetts. 19 people were hung, one was pressed to death by stone(Sutter 1). They were killed due to their believed affiliation with the the devil. Killed with little to no evidence, the only evidence was made from minors. …show more content…
After being arrested, federal authorities questioned the children. They all had the same responses regarding they received some sort of sexual abuse from Gerald, mother Violet, and sister Cheryl. Police eventually arrested them and the daycare was closed in 1984. Accusations are defined as claims that someone has done something wrong or illegal; therefore, they have to be proven. During the trials the only set of evidence they used as proof were child testimonies. Children from ages 3 to 7 are still figuring out the difference between fantasy and reality. They create imaginary worlds in their play(Hartwell-Walker). This was due to the hysteria. The fear the people lived in on a daily basis was so strong, so powerful everyone was a suspecting one of the trials, a child was being questioned about where she was touched and if pictures were taken of her genitalia. She denied every claim and said she was not sexualy abused. Also during the trial, a boy told how he was tied to a tree naked in the schoolyard in front of teachers and students. Teachers and students denied the allegations and Amiraults were found guilty(Pendergrast). Children relaying false information, seems like history is repeating