Ad Populum
Appeal to Popularity
Bandwagon
Sheldon Burks
Emily Huizenga
Definition

Ad Populum - An argument that concludes a proposition is true
because many or most people believe it.

Appeal to Popularity - Most people approve of X therefore X is
true.

Bandwagon - A fallacy in which the threat of rejection by one’s
peers is substituted for evidence in an argument.
Today many people are
jumping on the social
media bandwagon because
of an increase in
technology.
Pop Culture Example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhMaUiufjcU

This commercial shows a “sports fan” jumping on the team bandwagon by
choosing the football team that is winning at that certain point in time.
Examples in The Crucible
Abigail: …I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn
with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!
Betty: I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil!...I saw Martha Bellow
with the Devil!
…
Hale: It is broken, they are free!
Abigail: I saw Goody Sibber with the Devil!
Putnam: The marshal, I’ll call the marshal!
Betty: I saw Alice Barrow with the Devil!
Hale: Let the marshal bring irons!
(Act 1, page 189)

In this excerpt Abigail claims she saw several women with the Devil, once she proposes this idea
all of the other girls jump on the bandwagon and follow suit by accusing women they do not like.
Examples in The Crucible
Hale: I believe him! (Pointing at Abigail.) This girl has always struck me false! She has—
(Abigail, with a weird, wild, chilling cry, screams up to the ceiling.)
Abigail: You will not! Begone! Begone, I say!
Danforth: What is it, child? (But Abigail, pointing with fear, is now raising up her frightened eyes, her
awed face, toward the ceiling—the girls are doing the same—and now Hathorne, Hale, Putnam,
Cheever, Herrick, and Danforth do the same.) What’s there? (He lowers his eyes from the ceiling, and
now he is frightened; there is real tension in his voice.) Child! (She is transfixed—with all the girls, she
is whimpering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.) Girls! Why do you—
Mercy Lewis (Pointing): It’s on the beam! Behind the rafter!
(Act 3, page 223 and 224)
In this excerpt Mercy Lewis claims Mary Warren is trying to hurt them, so all of the other girls
follow suit and act like Mary is trying to hurt them as well.
Examples in The Crucible
Danforth: And you bound yourself to his service (Danforth turns, as Rebecca and Willard enter.) Ah, Rebecca Nurse. – Come in, come in, woman.
Rebecca: Ah, John! You are well, then , eh?
Danforth: Courage, man, courage—let her witness your good example that she may come to God herself. Now hear it, Goody Nurse! Say on, Mister
Proctor—did you bind yourself to the Devil’s service?
Rebecca : Why, John!
Proctor: (Face turned from Rebecca.) I did.
Danforth: Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin’ to keep this conspiracy any further. Will you confess yourself with him?
Rebecca : Oh, John—God send His mercy on you!
Proctor : Take her out!
Danforth: I say will you confess yourself, Goody Nurse!
Rebecca: Why, it is lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot.
Danforth: Mister Proctor. When the Devil came to you did you see Rebecca Nurse in his company? Come, man, take courage—did you ever see her
with the Devil?
Proctor : (Almost inaudibly, in agony.) No. (Rebecca takes a step toward him.)
(Act 4, Page 238)
In this excerpt Danforth brings Rebecca Nurse to see John Proctor confess to witchery in hopes that
after she sees him confess she will confess herself as well thus jumping on the bandwagon.
Works Cited
"Argumentum Ad Populum." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
Doritos Crash The Superbowl 2012 "Bandwagon Daddy" Youtube. 20 Nov. 2011. Web.
16 Feb. 2012.
"Fallacy: Appeal to Popularity." The Nizkor Project. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
"Fallacy: Bandwagon." The Nizkor Project. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
Social Media Bandwagon. Digital image. Volacci. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.volacci.com/image/social-media-bandwagonjpg>.