Colonial Era Dbq

New England in the seventeenth century was a difficult place to live. The raging winds of winter, the ravaging Indian tribes and the many diseases that killed both livestock and family members often had inhabitants believing that they were being punished by God for their sins, or that their afflictions were caused by something much more sinister. Anyone who threatened traditional gender and societal roles was seen as a potential threat to both themselves and the rest of the community. The outbreaks of witch accusations that occurred throughout New England during this time reflected how unsettled the settlers really felt about their lives. This is reflected in both the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials and the Stamford, Connecticut witch trials even if these trials had different results.

Church was the foundation of life in New England. People in Massachusetts were Puritans colonists seeking freedom and religious acceptance by leaving England. The Puritan lifestyle was self-controlled and firmly enforced. Since Puritans were expected to live by a resistant code; they believed that all sins committed should be punished and that God would punish sinful behavior. When someone went against their codes, Puritans saw it as God’s will to not help them. In keeping up with the Puritan code of obedience, the many women to be accused of witchcraft in Salem were seen as divergent and social

Kappanadze, Margaret. "Baker, Emerson W.: A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience." Library Journal 15 Sept. 2014: 92. General OneFile. Web. 14 Sept. 2014.

The American Antebellum period nurtured the disunity between primarily the North and the South that led to the Civil War. Despite relying on each other for things like cotton, the differences in social ideology and morality were too great to provide a completely united country. Industrially, the South was not as advanced as the North and relied on the North for certain things like tools.

One law states, “If any man or woeman be a witch, (that is hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit). They shall be put to death” (Mass. Body of Lib. 10). Another law states that if a man worships any other god, but the lord god, after legal conviction, he would be put to death (Mass. Body of Lib. 10). Even if a man did something as small as damage or ridicule the name of God, he would be put to death (Mass. Body of Lib. 10). Laws were severe and there are plenty of examples of these laws put into practice. Baptists who did not believe in infant baptism would cover their ears and turn around during the process. This could be changed in courts, the person could be banished, or the person could be imprisoned (Yale 9). Also, people who would protest against the General Court or the Puritan rule would be banished (Breen 1). Religion had colossal part to play in the laws and the consequences in Puritan New England.

The punishments for crime in the colonial times were harsh in some cases or humiliating. Some crimes like murder, treason, or piracy,(stealing from other boats) had people sentenced to death. Crimes that cost the price of humiliation were crimes such as being drunk or working or traveling on sunday.The specific way a criminal would be punished is that

DBQ - Democracy in Colonial America Essay The thirteen colonies in America began early on to develop democratic features. Accountability, individual or human rights, and regular free and fair elections are only a few principles that make up today's democracy. Today's democracy is quite different from how it was during colonial times. In colonial America, there were many democratic and undemocratic features that made democracy a work in progress.

Democracy is a system of government where the supreme power is rested in the people. In colonial America, democratic features began early on and common rights were given such as the tolerance of religion, educational opportunities, freedom of speech, and a representative government. The principles of democracy were first mentioned in the Mayflower Compact as it notes about working together as to support the colony. As democracy in colonial America progressed, civil rights were provided to the majority but were limited to the minority. Colonial America granted common rights such as freedom of speech and protection from crime.

“One word can aptly describe the punishment imposed on perpetrators in the first half of that century — cruel” (Curland). Crime and punishment in the 1800s was very severe and often was amusing to the public. Some techniques of punishment included branding, whipping, and ear nailing. The English-American colonies used a patriarchal method to their punishment. The men, typically civil officers, or religious leaders, made the laws. The less fortunate, including children, servants, slaves, soldiers, farmers, and tradesmen had to obey the harsh rules put in place. On Sundays, Virginian ministers had to read the Articles, Lawes and Orders. Failure to go to church two times each day would result in the loss of a day’s worth of food. The second

Whippings, tattoos, and stocks? That’s only the beginning of a long list of colonial punishments and compared to modern ones, the punishments of the English-American colonies were a lot more severe (and I mean a lot). This fascinating article describes in depth many of the common punishments used to discipline the settlers’ crimes. A few of the well known ones include brandings and maimings, ducking stools, and hangings. In the article, a branding or maiming merely meant that your body was burned with a mark or cut off. For example, if someone stole something for the first time, a capital “B” was branded on the right hand of the culprit and on the left hand for the second offense. “T” stood for thievery, “R” for rogue, and “F” for forgery. In maimings, one’s body parts could be lopped off, including ears and even noses!

Puritan society placed especially strict codes upon women. In this time, single women were labeled as aberrant for working to maintain their independence. In 1600’s, women who exhibited this trait were at risk of being implicated as a witch. Additionally, individuals who suffered from mental or physical disabilities were also vulnerable to false accusations of witchery. People who deviated from the social and physical norms were strictly punished. The mildest consequences consisted of fines or warnings with the most ominous being public whippings, placed in the stocks, and even death. Crimes such as skipping church, breaking the Sabbath, sexual deviancy, and immorality were considered the most heinous violations in Puritan society. Many of the individuals who were suspected to be witches confessed in order to be publically scolded rather than find themselves on the end of a noose.

There were punishments for every law, but the severity of them was different based on the class of the person. A person’s social status determined the harshness of his/her punishment. Higher classmen were typically punished at a less degree than lower classmen and slaves. Crimes consisted of the same harmful acts still seen today, such as murder, theft, and disturbing the peace. Minor crimes today were taken

For some sins, Puritan law demanded much more than an embroidered letter to transform a criminal into a living sermon of sin. Some crimes, such as witchcraft in The Crucible, called for death itself to be the example set for society. Punishment in Salem, Massachusetts was very rash; people were put in jail without justifiable evidence due to the schemes of the "inflicted" girls. Even the most honorable people like Rebecca Nurse, "the very brick

Different forms of punishments have been used to handle criminals. Like the rubbing and burning of a persons neck as they strain to get out of the rope that’s strangling their neck. Or the poisonous fumes stream through your nostrils as you die slowly. This is when punishments started and which punishments were useful and which ones failed in the societies of these old times and how law and rules were made up and how judges began to deal with criminals.

Prisons were virtually non-existent before the 1700’s because prison was not considered a serious punishment for crime. Instead, the government imprisoned those who were awaiting trial where they would receive a more appropriate punishment. Many punishments at the time included branding, extreme fines, whipping, and the death penalty or capital punishment. Most offenders when caught, received their punishment in public. This was done to try and discourage criminal activity and falls under the theory of deterrence.