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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1885] ==Definitions== *1: a searching out for persecution of pers...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Witch-Burning.jpg|right|frame]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1885]
==Definitions==
*1: a searching out for [[persecution]] of persons accused of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft witchcraft]
*2: the searching out and deliberate harassment of those (as [[political]] opponents) with unpopular views
==Description==
A '''witch-hunt''' is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving [[moral]] [[panic]], mass hysteria and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching lynching], but in historical instances also legally [[sanctioned]] and involving official witchcraft [[trials]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_trials_in_the_Early_Modern_period classical period of witchhunts] in Europe and North America falls into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_period Early Modern period] or about 1480 to 1750, spanning the upheavals of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation Reformation] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War Thirty Years' War], resulting in an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 executions.
The last executions of people [[convicted]] as witches in Europe took place in the 18th century. In the Kingdom of Great Britain, witchcraft ceased to be an act punishable by [[law]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Act_of_1735 Witchcraft Act of 1735]. In Germany, [[sorcery]] remained punishable by law into the late 18th century. Contemporary witch-hunts are reported from Sub-Saharan Africa, India and Papua New Guinea. Official legislation against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft witchcraft] is still found in Saudi Arabia and Cameroon.
The term "witch-hunt" since the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930's 1930s] has also been in use as a [[metaphor]] to refer to [[moral]] [[panics]] in general (frantic [[persecution]] of [[perceived]] [[enemies]]). This usage is especially associated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Red_Scare Second Red Scare] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950's 1950s] (the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyist McCarthyist] persecution of [[communists]] in the United States).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_hunt]
[[Category: Law]]
[[Category: Religion]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1885]
==Definitions==
*1: a searching out for [[persecution]] of persons accused of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft witchcraft]
*2: the searching out and deliberate harassment of those (as [[political]] opponents) with unpopular views
==Description==
A '''witch-hunt''' is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving [[moral]] [[panic]], mass hysteria and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching lynching], but in historical instances also legally [[sanctioned]] and involving official witchcraft [[trials]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_trials_in_the_Early_Modern_period classical period of witchhunts] in Europe and North America falls into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_period Early Modern period] or about 1480 to 1750, spanning the upheavals of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation Reformation] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War Thirty Years' War], resulting in an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 executions.
The last executions of people [[convicted]] as witches in Europe took place in the 18th century. In the Kingdom of Great Britain, witchcraft ceased to be an act punishable by [[law]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Act_of_1735 Witchcraft Act of 1735]. In Germany, [[sorcery]] remained punishable by law into the late 18th century. Contemporary witch-hunts are reported from Sub-Saharan Africa, India and Papua New Guinea. Official legislation against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft witchcraft] is still found in Saudi Arabia and Cameroon.
The term "witch-hunt" since the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930's 1930s] has also been in use as a [[metaphor]] to refer to [[moral]] [[panics]] in general (frantic [[persecution]] of [[perceived]] [[enemies]]). This usage is especially associated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Red_Scare Second Red Scare] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950's 1950s] (the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyist McCarthyist] persecution of [[communists]] in the United States).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_hunt]
[[Category: Law]]
[[Category: Religion]]