The salem witch trials were an example of mass hysteria because everyone was afraid of witchcraft so much that they were ready to indict anyone and pursue anyone. Similar to this was the communist hunt in the fifties and sixties where everyone was afraid that people were secretly working for the Soviets and they were prepared to indict anyone.
The excerpt seems to be reflecting the viewpoint put forward in option a) It is hard for humans to evaluate events in terms of potential outcomes. For example, the line referring to the 'undistinguish'd seeds of good and ill' seems to insinuate that human beings are not able to work out which seeds will grow to be good or bad.
George Washington (Didn’t actually sign the Declaration of Independence) ordered Continental soldiers to assemble at 6 to hear a declaration approved by the Continental Congress calling for American Independence from Great Britain
One of the weakest forms of evidence is opinions, since there is nothing to support it
