Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692

What caused the Salem Witch crisis of 1692?IBHOA Halloween Supplement1Historical Background1400s-1600s Witch Hunts in EuropeCoincided with political instability (Thirty Years War)Last witch convicted in England: 1682

Salem, Massachusetts1691-1693 in Salem VillageAbigail Williams (11) & Elizabeth Betty Parris (9) fell ill

Abigail and ElizabethComplained of :pinching, prickling sensations, knifelike pains, and the feeling of being choked. three more girls showed similar symptoms

Victims of Witchcraft

Doctor & Reverend suggested witchcraft might be the cause of odd behaviorPressured girls to name witches who were torturing them

The First Witches IdentifiedGirls identified Tituba and 2 white women (Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne) as witchesTituba confessed to being a witch, and testified that four women and a man were causing the girls illnessAccusations began!

The First Witches IdentifiedThe girls continued to accuse people of witchcraft all arrested and awaited trial in jail

Why do you think the people of Salem believed the girls accusations of witchcraft?In groups, examine the documents (A,B,C,D)

According to the documents, why did the people of Salem believe the girls accusations?Economic & Social DivisionsDivisions in Salem:1. Salem Town Prosperous port , commercial centerPopulation: 1,4002. Salem Village Poor farming region on the peripheryPopulation: 550(Document D)

Relationship Between Town & VillageTown depended on Village for foodTown collected (and) set high taxes for VillageVillagers resented Salem Town for their materialism

The AccusedMost of the accusations made by Villagers (poor side)AccusedMiddle Aged wives & widows From Town (prosperous side)The Accused : had un explicable blemishes (moles), were Unfeminine, aggressive and disliked

Testimony of Abigail Hobbs

Historical Re-enactment -Scene#1

Scene #2

Youre Accused! What Will You Do????A. FLEE SALEM

(B)ACCUSE SOMEONE ELSE

(C) QUICK! GET PREGNANT

(D) CONFESS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE INNOCENT

(E) PLEAD INNOCENT AND STAND FOR TRIAL

(F) REFUSE TO STAND FOR TRIAL AND FACE THE CONSEQUENCES

Spectral Evidence allowed in court

The afflicted girls were often kept in the courtroom as evidence while the accused were examined. If they screamed and claimed that the accused witch was torturing them,the judge would have to believe their visions (spectral evidence)

Examining the Trial Recordshttp://salem.lib.virginia.edu/17docs.html

1. click on Transcription of Court Records2. Salem Witchcraft papers3. Transcription of the court records

Choose 1 court record and go over it with a partnerWhat did you learn by reading this document?Statistics- 1692134 were accused of witchcraft24 males, 110 females20 men and women were convicted of witchcraft & suffered death penalty7 died in jail while awaiting trial

Statistics - 169219 accused witches were hanged on Gallows Hill in 1692The 1st: June 10th Bridget BishopThe last: September 22nd: Samuel Wardwell1 man Giles Corey was pressed to death on September 19th

Doubts grew when1. respected citizens were convicted and executed 2. Accusations of witchcraft included the powerful and well-connected3. The educated elite of Boston pressured the Governor to exclude spectral evidence (lacked legal credibility)As a result1. the importance of innocent until proven guilty.2. the importance of credible evidence in court.Salem, Mass.

Salem Memorial

Works Citedhttp://salem.lib.virginia.edu/17docs.htmlhttp://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/Salem%20Lesson%20Plan.pdf