Puritans and witches
Who were the Puritans?
• Protestants that wanted to reform the Anglican Church
• Settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Spoke out against the King
• Believed in demonic forces
• The greatest achievement in life was death
• The church was the center of society. Many lived in close proximity to their church.
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Dressed in dark colors
Church attendance was mandatory
Believed that music led to laziness
Valued hard work
Harsh punishments
Colonial Punishments
• The Puritans forbade singing carols
• Someone who swore would be fined AND whipped
• If a child broke a law, their FATHER was punished.
• If 2 boys were talking in class, they would be joined by a stick in their mouths
• If a woman poured dirty water into the street, they would receive a lashing.
• Naughty children at school would be whipped with willow rods.
• If a woman committed a crime, often her husband was sentenced.
• Criminals were often branded on the hand.
Stocks
• A pair of boards with holes for the ankles and SHARPENED edge of a board for a seat with a hole for the head and hands were used.
• People would throw rotten fruit and garbage at them
• It was wise to hire someone to wipe their face so they don’t SUFFOCATE!
Public punishment
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Salem Witch Trials
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Fear…
• Devil gave witches power
• From 1500-1800 in Europe, 300,000 innocent women were put to death
• Grew out of fear, superstition, and ignorance
• Reverend Cotton Mather wrote a book about strange behaviors of children
• Some young girls heard lurid stories from West Indian slaves about voodoo/they acted possessed
• 200 cases in the Colonies. 20 executed
How do you test for a witch?
• Sink Test: Rocks tied to their feet. If they sank, they were innocent. If they didn’t, they were guilty and executed.
• Pin Test: They looked for the black mark of the devil. They would poke it with a needle. If you didn’t bleed, you were a witch.
Punishment
• Death by hanging. (Burning at the stake was common in Europe)
• 19 people hanged
• 1 person pressed to death
• The only way to escape prison, was to admit to being a witch.
• 13 died in prison
Hysteria in the colonies
Final Facts!
• No positive proof witches ever existed (Black Magic)
• Witches were often men as well as women
• Salem was not the only place witches were tried and punished
summary
• What did you learn about the Puritans and Witches?
• Why is hysteria a dangerous thing?