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Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

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Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials were a series of accusations of witchcraft brought against the women, men, and children of Salem, Massachusetts, during the late 1600s. This event in early American history shaped not only how America conducts its justice, but also how we view it. The Salem Witch Trials were started in Salem, Massachusetts in February of 1692. These witch trials resulted in 25 deaths which at the time was considered to be a very large number of deaths for one singular event, and also is possibly one of the most known and covered mass persecutions for witchcraft in history. Although we do not know for certain what caused the trials, there were many speculated ideas and events that played a part in creating the paranoia that led to what is known as the …show more content…

The end of the Salem Witch Trials came not long after the start, ending in May of 1963. In total, the duration of the Salem Witch Trials lasted only a little over a year. Had it not been for the fact that the Governor's wife was accused, the trials may not have ended so soon. As more and more accusations came to light, people started to blame more prominent community members, this made people look back and start to question the validity of the statements when eventually someone did the unthinkable and accused Governor William Phips’ wife of witchcraft. After Governor Philips heard of this accusation, he knew he had to put an end to it, so he released the 150-plus people from jail and shut down the arrests and trials for accusations of witchcraft. This is the only information that is available at the conclusion of the Salem Witch Trials. Although it was a short duration of time and not a major number of deaths, it is intriguing that there are no more records and sources on how the Salem Witch Trials

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This mass hysteria event was caused by many more factors, though, some including surrounding area threats, an illnesses outbreak, and the fact that the town was overwhelmingly Puritan, but still left many lives destroyed. To truly understand the Salem Witch Trials, you must first understand the events that led up to them. At

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The Salem Witch Trials I. From June to September of the 1692 in the small farming village of Salem, Massachusetts, nineteen people were hanged on Gallows Hill for the crime of witchcraft. But as many as thirty-seven (sources conflict as to the exact number) may have died when one factors in the men and women who were hanged, those who died in prison, and the one man (Giles Corey) who was pressed to death. I am writing about this incident because I believe it to be significant to history for two major reasons. Firstly, this incident did not occur in the time or place where one would have expected it.

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There are a lot of things that could have led up to it like the recent small pox outbreak and threatening Indian raids on the outskirts of town. Other theories include the thought of the coming Doomsday and reports of Spaniards pirating English ships (Rinaldi, 1992). “The harsh realities of life in the rural Puritan community of Salem Village at the time included the after-effects of a British with France in the American colonies in 1689” (Staff, 2011). There were some smaller things going on that also could have built up to the trials like people fighting over cattle grazing rights, property rights, and class distinctions.

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Over the next few months everything went mad, a court was made for the witches, people were hung and killed. But then the Governor stopped from new arrest to happen and let go of the accused witches and eventually got the witches out of jail. But even though this stopped further pain and suffering, it had already caused so much damage to the area. This trial haunted the area for years and the people so much that people even know what the Salem Trials were

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Salem Witch Trials Mass hysteria, social ignorance, and religious intolerance all describe the chaos that took place in Massachusetts during the year 1692. The Salem Witch Trials were not a positive section of American history but have been used as a learning tool for the United States. According to Plouffe, Jr., the trials were the largest of suspected criminals in the colonial period of American history. More than one hundred and fifty people were arrested on charges of witchcraft, and nineteen of these individuals were convicted and hanged (Plouffe, Jr. n. pag.). Many factors play into the long process of the Salem Witch Trials and have had a lasting impact on American history.

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What really happened? The Salem Witch trials were the most notorious killings of 1692, 20 people were put to death with little to no evidence. During the late months of summer in Salem, Massachusetts rumors of witches swept the town. Many different theories have been stated on why the the salem witch trials happened and why the girls did it.

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The Salem witch trials started in 1692 in Salem village, Massachusetts and resulted in many deaths. Fear was a common feeling at this time in Salem. It all starts with a little girl getting sick and all of a sudden many victims were in danger. The Salem witch trials had a very agonizing effect and consist of false possession, devil worship, and false accusation. False possession that was caused by the girls who were supposedly possessed by witches feared the townspeople.

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The Salem witch trials occurred during the 14th century. During this century the puritans beliefs were very strong in supernatural areas, in other words this means the belief in the devils practice of giving certain humans the power to harm others. If you were a puritan living at this time and you committed the crime of witchcraft the punishment for this would be death. The religion and beliefs during this time had a big role on how the puritans dealt with the so called witches, although christian rule stated that no one shall kill. Killing was still involved in the trials causing the rules and laws to be broken, because of this the acception for breaking this rule was unknown.

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The Salem Witch Trials lasted from 1692 to 1693 and shrouded Salem and various neighboring communities in paranoia. These trials resulted in the death of 20 and the vilification of 200 others based on nothing but a few claims. With already

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The lives of the un-expected people of Salem, Massachusetts soon turned into a living nightmare. The hunt for people practicing the devil's work began. The Salem witch trials first started in February of 1692, this unfortunate event led to many deaths, Nearly 150 women, children, and men were punished for behaving in an unnatural way and 19 people were executed. The Salem Witch Trials were a very dangerous time for people, if someone was accused of being a witch they could be burned alive, drowned, pressed between heavy boulders, stabbed, shot, and hanged. Historians believe that the women who were being targeted had all been on the same page, somehow they were connected mentally and spiritually.

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The History of the Salem Witch Trials Witchcraft is when people were considered worshiping the devil and taking part in his sinful acts. Witches were described as being people that the devil would give power to so that they could harm others in order for them to become loyal to the devil. Starting in Massachusetts in 1692, the Salem Witch Trials became a quite serious matter. First people to be convicted were, Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, Tituba (the house slave), and Bridget Bishop, they were hung and fifteen others followed.

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The Salem Witch Trials The belief of witchcraft can be traced back centuries to as early as the 1300’s. The Salem Witch Trials occurred during 1690’s in which many members of Puritan communities were accused and convicted of witchcraft. These “witch trials” were most famously noted in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Many believe this town to be the starting point for the mass hysteria which spread to many other areas of New England.

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The Salem witch trials occurred in Massachusetts in the year of 1962. 20 people were executed and over 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft (the Devil’s magic). It all started when Reverend Samuel Parris’ niece and daughter started throwing, what were described as, “fits”. The fits consisted of the girls throwing things, moving into strange positions, saying very odd things, and screaming. When the girls were examined and observed by the village doctor, the doctor blamed the supernatural.

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The last trial was held in May 1963 and Phips released all the accused and convicted witches from prison. Several judges and jurors declared they were “sadly deluded and mistaken” in their judgements, as time transcended the Salem Witch trials. William Stoughton refused to apologise or explain himself and criticised Phips for interfering when he was about to clear the land of

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1006 Words | 5 Pages

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of court cases surrounding the mystery of witchcraft in the small town of Salem Village. More than 150 people were accused, and 20 were executed (Smithsonian.com). Many people such as Samuel Parris, Abigail Williams and victims of the hysteria kept the madness going. Before understanding why the Salem Witch Trials happened, one must understand what happened. Before Salem, witch trials had taken place in England long before salem .

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