Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts

16921692

Salem Witch Trials

Why Salem Still Haunts UsWhy Salem Still Haunts Us

Fascination with WitchesFascination with Witches

A Stain on American HistoryA Stain on American History

How Could an Entire Community Engage How Could an Entire Community Engage in Such Horrific Acts?in Such Horrific Acts? 140 people accused of practicing witchcraft140 people accused of practicing witchcraft Twenty accused witches executed.Twenty accused witches executed.

Salem—the Village HistorySalem—the Village History

1630: John Winthrop is elected the first governor.1630: John Winthrop is elected the first governor. ““A Model of Christian Charity”A Model of Christian Charity” ““City of a Hill”City of a Hill”

1641: English law makes witchcraft a capital 1641: English law makes witchcraft a capital crime. crime.

November, 1689: Samuel Parris is named the November, 1689: Samuel Parris is named the new minister of Salem, and Salem Village Church new minister of Salem, and Salem Village Church is formed. is formed.

In Times of Hardship Can we watch each other without judging each other?

In times of hardship, in tight knit communities, people began to look for people to blame for their problems. People believed that witches had a secret pact with the devil

Hardships Blamed on Witches: Failed crops The death of livestock People becoming ill Sudden accidental death

Puritan LifePuritan Life

Society centered around the church. The younger generation did not share the same strict religious views.

Strange BehaviorStrange Behavior

In January of 1692, a group of girls in Salem Village, In January of 1692, a group of girls in Salem Village, MA began to exhibit strange behaviorMA began to exhibit strange behavior blasphemous screamingblasphemous screaming convulsive seizuresconvulsive seizures trance-like states trance-like states mysterious spells.mysterious spells.

Physicians concluded that only the influence of Physicians concluded that only the influence of Satan could be responsible for the girls’ afflictions.Satan could be responsible for the girls’ afflictions.

Pressured to identify the source of their affliction, the Pressured to identify the source of their affliction, the girls named three women as witches.girls named three women as witches.

Causes for the Girls’ ActionsCauses for the Girls’ Actions

WitchcraftWitchcraft JealousyJealousy RepressionRepression HysteriaHysteria GuiltGuilt BoredomBoredom

Map of SalemMap of Salem

Can any deductions be made from this map?

Characteristics of “Witch” TrialsCharacteristics of “Witch” Trials

1.1. Pressure of Social ForcesPressure of Social Forces

2.2. Stigmatization of the AccusedStigmatization of the Accused

3.3. Climate of FearClimate of Fear

4.4. Resemblance to a Fair TrialResemblance to a Fair Trial

5.5. Simulated Evidence/Expert TestimonySimulated Evidence/Expert Testimony

Why the hysteria endedWhy the hysteria ended

Doubts grow when respected citizens are Doubts grow when respected citizens are convicted and executed. convicted and executed.

Accusations of witchcraft include the powerful Accusations of witchcraft include the powerful and well-connected. and well-connected.

The educated elite of Boston pressure Gov. to The educated elite of Boston pressure Gov. to exclude spectral evidenceexclude spectral evidence

What Would You Do?

1.Flee Salem2.Accuse someone else.3.Confess, even though you are

innocent.4.Plead innocent and stand for trial.5.Refuse to stand trial and face the

consequences.