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Trister Witch Trials Research Paper

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A factor that contributed to making people more aware of witchcraft and allowing more people to condemn it and those related to it was the development of the printing press around 1439. The new invention allowed for books that provided ample information on witchcraft and how to confront the situations having to do with it. These books made their way through most of western Europe as interest on the subject began to accumulate throughout the continent and different opinions and views circulated the topic. During this time, fictional works were also being published such as the infamous and controversial play, Doctor Faustus, which only emphasized and added to the original and malicious beliefs of witches and magicians involvement with the …show more content…

Because of the advancement in the printing press in the fifteenth century, witches were put in a even more negative light due to published works portraying them as sinister beings that interacted with the Devil and went against the Church …show more content…

Among the many famous trials of this time, the Trier witch trials was most likely one of the largest and took the most lives compared to all other European witch hunts as it is known that it claimed at least three-hundred and sixty-eight lives in the city, however the exact number of deaths overall is unknown. The event started as Johann von Schöneburg was chosen as Archbishop of the diocese of Trier in Germany. His first order of command was the expulsion of Jews, Protestants, and lastly, witches. Those in charge of distributing punishment to the accused tormented all kinds of people of both genders, varying ages, and different social classes on the hierarchy. The accusation of sorcery lead to people being burned alive and very few of a majority escaped from the harsh punishment and retribution for the blame being put on them. At times, those who showed the slightest sign of opposition towards the persecutions were also tortured. For example, Dietrich Flade, a chief judge of the electoral court, was arrested, tormented, and burned alive after being strangled as well. Although an essential position in the Germanic government, because Flade displayed disapproval for the trials, he himself suffered the consequences. (http://www.witchcraftandwitches.com/trials_trier.html). In addition, an eyewitness of the tragedy, Cornelius Loos,

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This will be the first source I will be using to follow the social reason contributing to the hysteria having a greater impact on British witchcraft. The first passage I will use from Thomas potts is the following; the account of the trials from the samlesbury witches. The samlesbury witches were three women from the area who were Jane southworth jennet Brierley Ellen bierely which were accused by a fourteen-year-old child grace sowerbutts for practicing witchcraft. Thomas potts a clerk from the court who was involved first hand in this trial which lasted for 2 days that the outcome came to the fact that they were guilty and inevitably the were hung also with another 7 witches for along the same lines I what the samlesbury witches committed. This is why it is a social factor which contributed to the hysteria because there was a sense in this time period of jealousy therefore this meant that if someone didn’t like someone else they could very easily go to their witch finder which was operating in the town at the time and say

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The European witch craze between 1563 and 1620 highlighted a variety of problems across society over how these individuals were treated and what the root cause of the increase of the sweeping paranoia of witchcraft and magic. Ultimately, like the beliefs of historians such as Anne Barstow and Marion Gibson, the sweeping paranoia increase was ruled by misogyny both as a direct and underlying cause. Justification for misogyny during trials came in many forms such as religious justification as female witches magic was viewed as the complete opposite to Christianity’s God and his holy power. Legislation against witchcraft didn’t really come into power in England until the 1563 Witchcraft Act created by Queen Elizabeth I and it “formally criminalised

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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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One of the most notorious periods of American history, the Salem witch trials of 1692 resulted in the execution by hanging of fourteen women and five men who were accused of being witches during a period of mass hysteria. In addition, one man was pressed to death by giant stones for refusing to even plea innocent. At least eight people died in prison, including infants and children alike. Additionally, nearly two hundred people were jailed for months awaiting a trial that never came. Due to the survival of a large multitude of records, including notes and official rulings, the true facts of accusations, trials, and even the executions are known by the public.

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While the witch trials were said to get rid of witches, who were bewitching people and ruining lives, it was unfair and cruel because they killed 19 innocent men, women, and children, 144 people were thrown in jail under harsh

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Witchcraft was a very serious crime and if you were thought to be involved, you were likely to be killed. In The Single Greatest Witch Hunt in American History, For Real, many families were blamed for being involved with witchcraft and one guy, Thomas Brattle who was working for the government, blamed many innocent families of being involved with witchcraft and all of them were killed because they gave in to the higher authority. Although these two stories share the same concept, they aren't the only two that share

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In comparison, The Salem Witch Trials may have a much lower death toll of 20 executed but they share a common moral(Miller,). The innocent were permitted to death due to an opinionated individual. Also the way these deaths took place back then, majority were to be hung. The individuals who took control in both past events were Adolf Hitler and Abigail Williams.

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The rumor of witchcraft and darkness is everywhere now due to one special lady. The witch hysteria wouldn't have become hysteria if there wasn't people pushing it and saying it was true and making a big ordeal about it. Abigail Williams is most responsible for the hysteria for pretending to be possessed and influencing the other girls do the same, She went along with the act saying that she was being tormented by real witches playing the victim, making people worry about witches. This woman is drama queen no joke!

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No one really knew if they were innocent or not,they just assumed. People who were executed were mostly women, and their family. Even 2 dogs were given the death penalty for being accused of working with the “witches”. Some other animals were killed too. Did you know, that people thought that the witches were trying to kill their children, when their kids actually had smallpox.

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19 people were hung during the trials. After a few more deaths, the town’s citizens started having doubt about if they were doing the right thing. Many citizens started to doubt that so many people were witches. Most of the evidence seemed to be unreliable, like dreams and halusinations. The trials ended after the hanging of eight people.

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Tori Humphrey Salem Essay September 30th, 2017 Dr. Wood The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft. Of those 200 people, 20 were executed 14 women and 6 men. The 6th man was essentially pressed to death with heavy rocks because he refused to be tried. The other were hung.

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Although the beginning of witchcraft cannot be dated, it was believed to be a very real thing by many, even arguably all civilizations. Throughout history many horrendous trials have been focused on witches/wizards. Historically one of the most well know trails was the one that took place in Salem. The Salem Witch Trails occurred in 1692, this conflict caused death, the downfall of a community, and diminished the trust of 100’s of people. Many religious beliefs, mixed with fear of witchcraft, and a lack of knowledge resulted in 200 accused and 19 permanently suffering.

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721 Words | 3 Pages

Bridget Bishop, a resident of Salem, was the first person to be tried as a witch. Surprisingly, Bishop was accused of witch craft by the highest number of witneses. After Bishop, more than two hundred people were tried of practicing witchcraft and twenty were executed. Many of these accusations arose from jealous, lower class members of society, especially towards women who had come into a great deal of land or wealth. Three young children by the names of Elizabeth, Abigail, and Ann were the first three people to be “harmed” by the witches.

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1080 Words | 5 Pages

Multiple accused individuals died while they were in prison, due to the terrible conditions. During the time of imprisonment the accused people were said to have been tortured and even denied water to try and get them to confess to being witches. One common story that is spoken with the Salem Witch Trials really shows how far they went with the situation. That story involves a man named Giles Corey, who was accused of being a witch, but unlike the others he refused to plead in any way. In an effort to get him to talk, Corey was forced to remove his clothes and lay flat on his back where they began to place large rocks on top of his body.

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As I said, what they possibly though were witchcraft back then could be something treatable by now. Unlike in 1690’s, they didn’t have proof to back their hypothesis that it was bewitching. But now that the reason behind the said incidents were already established and proved wrong by people who studied what might have happened back then. People might still believe witchcraft does exist in present time solely because they have no idea that it might just be an illness that they had no idea about. That the reaction of people around toward something can affect greatly on how things can be

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