It was
1800, and
conspiracy theories were flourishing across America. Partisan newspapers spread tales of European elites seeking to seize control of the young democracy. Preachers in New England warned of plots to abolish Christianity in favor of godlessness and depravity.
From the
witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, to fears of the Illuminati, from
the Red Scare to
the John Birch Society to QAnon,
conspiracy theories have served as dark counterprogramming to the American story taught in history books. If a healthy democracy relies on the trust of its citizens, then conspiracy theories show
what happens when that trust begins to fray.
Change a few details, add in a
pizza parlor, and the hysteria surrounding the Illuminati sounds a lot like
QAnon, the contemporary conspiracy theory that claims a powerful cabal of
child-sacrificing satanists secretly shapes world events. Like the Illuminati craze, QAnon emerged at a time of uncertainty, polarization and distrust.
The most persistent conspiracy theories can survive on the fringes for decades, before suddenly reappearing with new details, villains and heroes, often at a time of social upheaval or economic dislocation. Sometimes, these beliefs can
erupt into action, as they did on
Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters broke into the U.S. Capitol.
