salem witch trials explanation

The Salem witch trials of 1692 led to 200 accusations of witchcraft and 20 executions. Explore the topic from a Social Studies perspective. Answer: Researchers aren’t sure exactly why the Salem Witch Trials occurred. [34] Women who did not conform to the norms of Puritan society were more likely to be the target of an accusation, especially those who were unmarried or did not have children. [30], In the early 1640s, England erupted in civil war. Dorothy Good, the daughter of Sarah Good, was only four years old but was not exempted from questioning by the magistrates; her answers were construed as a confession that implicated her mother. The publication A Tryal of Witches, related to the 1662 Bury St Edmunds witch trial, was used by the magistrates at Salem when looking for a precedent in allowing spectral evidence. Preston, VK. Thomas Hutchinson writing his history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 18th century, describe her as a "Spanish Indian. [101] The trials have figured in American culture and been explored in numerous works of art, literature and film. The acceptance of this evidence led to the wrongful imprisonment, conviction, and execution of many innocent citizens. werewolf panic that once swept through Europe. [102] For publishing this book, Maule was imprisoned twelve months before he was tried and found not guilty. [75] In his book, Mather explained how he felt spectral evidence was presumptive and that it alone was not enough to warrant a conviction. The men were both local magistrates and also members of the Governor's Council. It also resulted in the imprisonment of many more. He did not seem able to settle his new parishioners' disputes: by deliberately seeking out "iniquitous behavior" in his congregation and making church members in good standing suffer public penance for small infractions, he contributed significantly to the tension within the village. [82][83], In the Church Records, Parris describes speaking with Sibley privately on March 25, 1692, about her "grand error" and accepted her "sorrowful confession." One other man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death for refusing to plead, and at least five people died in jail. Montague Summer. Its bickering increased unabated. In her paper, Oster points out that the most active era of witchcraft trials in Europe and other places coincided with a 400-year period of lower-than-average temperatures. John Alden by proclamation. Parris had explicitly warned his congregation against such examinations. And this boredom may help to explain why Betty Parris and Abigail Williams became so interested in fortune-telling, which was allegedly introduced to them by a slave named Tituba. As soon as he was turned off [hanged], Mr. Cotton Mather, being mounted upon a Horse, addressed himself to the People, partly to declare that he [Mr. Burroughs] was no ordained Minister, partly to possess the People of his guilt, saying that the devil often had been transformed into the Angel of Light. [19] Increase Mather had published a book on witchcraft in 1684 and his son Cotton Mather published one in 1689. Chapter 145 of the resolves of 1957, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She claimed that she had not acted out of malice, but had been deluded by Satan into denouncing innocent people, mentioning Rebecca Nurse, in particular,[113] and was accepted for full membership. [37] Glover, of Irish Catholic descent, was characterized as a disagreeable old woman and described by her husband as a witch; this may have been why she was accused of casting spells on the Goodwin children. Wikimedia CommonsWhile many victims were hanged during the Salem witch trials, some faced even more brutal executions.

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