Lynching - what is it? This question is asked by many users of the World Wide Web. If you are reading this article now, we dare to assume that you are also looking for an answer to it. If this is the case, we suggest you familiarize yourself with our publication, which discusses this topic in detail.
Meaning of the word “lynch"
We will not beat around the bush, but immediately get down to business. Almost all explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language give the same designation of the concept of "lynching." This word refers to ordinary lynching, which is carried out by ordinary citizens, not associated with law enforcement agencies, over guilty or innocent people. This term came into use in the 18th century. Among specialists, there are several versions of its appearance, which we will talk about below.
The story of Charles Lynch
Many scholars have argued that “Lynch court” or “lynching” are concepts that were introduced due to the activities of Colonel Charles Lynch, colonel of the irregular forces of the American colonists. During the Civil War in the United States, he created his own court in Bedford County. His organization gained great fame because of the far from the most humane ways of punishing criminals. Each person who was found guilty of a particular crime, was waiting for execution through the gallows. Despite the fact that the concept of “Lynch court” is primarily associated with the killing of people whose guilt may not have been proven, in reality everything was different. Charles Lynch first delved into the essence of the matter, and only then passed the final verdict.
Today, Colonel Lynch has both supporters and opponents. Some people call his methods atrocious and cruel, while others, on the contrary, intercede for him and believe that his way of dealing with criminals helped save Bedford from the chaos and disorder that was going on during the Civil War.
William Lynch and Racial Inequality
According to theory number 2, the terms "lynching" and "Lynch court" got their names in honor of the planter William Lynch. He also brutally punished people without trial, but he did this not with criminals, but with black slaves controlled by him. In the days of Lynch, blacks were considered second-class people, and therefore such an attitude at that time was absolutely normal.
Farm lynching
Many lexicographers from America adhere to the version according to which "lynch" is a term named not in honor of some famous public figure or celebrity, but in honor of an ordinary farmer who lived in the state of Virginia in the 17th century. Experts say that every time this man caught criminals on his territory, he personally punished them with a whip. If you believe the legend, the neighbors asked him to become an unofficial judge of their settlement, who could expedite the sentencing of offenders.
James Fitzstephen Lynch
Another researchers believe that the concept discussed in the article appeared after the actions of the mayor of the Irish town of James Fitzstephen Lynch. If you believe this theory, then he hung his own son due to the fact that he cheated and killed guests from other countries.
Etymological version
Proponents of the latter theory argue that the concept of "lynching" got its name not because of the actions of a real or fictional historical character, but because of the old Anglo-Saxon verb Linch, which means "scourge". For a long time it was used by the British who migrated to the United States, while in their homeland this word has already gone out of use.
Lynching is what? We hope that our publication has given you a complete and detailed answer to this question.