Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of accusations, trials, and executions based on the supposed outbreak of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. The trials began during the spring of 1692, and the last of them ended in 1693. It all started when two young girls, Abigail and Betty Parris, began experiencing violent convulsions and outbursts, which were thought to be brought about by witchcraft. Whether they were faking these symptoms, were afflicted with an actual sickness, or were experiencing them because of some sort of psychological reason is widely debated, though it is known that the sisters accused their maid, Tituba, of forcing them to participate in witchcraft with her. Some who theorize about the causes of the trials dismiss the Parris girls involvement in the beginning and instead attribute the outbreak of accusations to judgement upon the members of society who break social or religious rules, or who struck the upright members of society as ‘strange’ and ‘suspicious’, such as the homeless, the poor, and old or widowed women. The cause of the hysteria that went on in Salem after this is what is speculated by so many. There are probably hundreds of theories out there, but a few in particular are more widely known, accepted, and supported than others.

Seeking religious refuge, the Puritans were Protestant Christians that believed in predestination. They were fundamentalists who believed in a literal translation of the bible and took their religion very serious. Based on the religious text, the mentioning of devils and witches caused speculations and even hysteria in Salem in 1692. It was thought that the devil would enter a normal person’s body using it to carry out sinful and outlandish actions. A witch might cause a faithful husband to commit adultery or a young girl to cry out in church. Admission of guilt, unusual powers or physical traits, anger followed by mischief, and spectral evidence (evidence that a victim was “visited” by a demon) were all signs that a person was a witch. Starting off in New England, the Salem witch trial hysteria of 1692 was born through the accusations of people practicing witchcraft.

The Salem Witch Trials, which occurred in colonial Massachusetts, were an act of mass hysteria leading to the deaths of twenty citizens. In late 1691 a young group of girls, including Betty Parris and Abigail Williams who lived with Revered Samuel Parris, began asking an African American, or possibly Native American, slave named Tituba about witchcraft. They soon began acting abnormally and were diagnosed as being bewitched. In April of 1692, Ann Putman accused the first three people, Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osburne, as being witches. The next month, Governor William Phips established the Court of Oyer and Terminer to handle any cases involving witchcraft. Bridget Bishop was the first accused witch to be hung in June 1692, followed by

The Salem Witch Trials tried to accuse innocent members of the society of doing witchcraft. The trials began June 2, 1692 in a court house in Salem, Massachusetts (Burgan 18-19). It affected four counties in Massachusetts: Salem Village, Ipswich, Salem Town, and Andover Counties (Totallyhistory.com). Anyone accused would be brought to a local magistrate to testify if they were truly a witch or not. Over two-hundred people were accused of doing witchcraft and 19 people were hanged (Brooks).

The Salem Witch Trials were a constant and consistent occurrence in 1691 Massachusetts; hangings became consistent, but the fear of the unknown became the true evil unleashed amongst the dark times that reigned upon Salem. Such atrocities were caused by a development of preposterous dispositions created by desperation and fear. The colony ran into hardship after exposure to illness, misfortune, and power struggles. Due to their religious ideology, they believed that an evil force was responsible for their hardship, and was responsible for wreaking havoc within their civilization.

The search for commies and witches happened at different points in time but had many similarities with very few differences. George Santayana said that, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." this quote I feel directly goes along with McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials.

Imagine living in a place where people are at each other's throats, and in most cases physical aggressions occur. Additionally, the sad thing was that the people being assaulted were not some malicious, dangerous criminals, most of them were next door neighbors, or a baker, or even a teacher, they were a member of society who played an important role in the community, yet they were still being accused of the misfortune of others. Instead of identifying and assessing the real issue, and solving it, these people were doing the exact opposite. This place I so generously refer to is located in none other than Salem, Massachusetts, but more specifically, I am referring to the historical event that took place there, the Salem witch trials. Any other normal human being would probably choose a less violent, per say, place to visit. I on the other hand would much rather visit a place that seemed like most, very calm and peaceful to the naked eye, but if you looked

The Salem Witch Trials The Salem witch trials began in Salem Massachusetts during the spring of 1692. The first “witch” convicted was Bridget Bishop, she was publicly hanged the June. Under British Law people thought to have been consulting with the devil or other spirits where considered felons. There where two different forms of confrontation, the afflicted and the accused. The afflicted where those supposedly possessed whom cried out the names of those possessing them.

The infamous Salem witch trials were a series of unfair hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. These series of events of America's most notorious and well-known cases of mass hysteria, where more than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people. Fourteen of them were women, and all but one died by hanging. Five others, including two infant children, died in prison.

Imagine this: You live in Salem Village, and you’re the perfect example of a good Puritan. You go to church every Sunday, read the bible daily, and you’re kind to everyone. All of a sudden, your life is ripped apart when you’re accused of witchcraft by a girl who you’ve known since she was little. This was exactly how it went for some, including Rebecca Nurse, a kind and loving grandmother who never should have been accused. The Salem Witch Trials were times of woe and despair, with many accused but all being innocent.

The iconic time period of the infamous event, the Salem witch trials, is just one of the worst events in the history of the world. Women, men, and children were being blamed for witchcraft, and unfortunately only men and women went to jail and were sentenced to death. I decided to do this topic because the Salem witch trials sounded like an interesting topic to read and learn about.It was the only topic that seemed interesting to me because I’m into creepy and gory things. This essay will discuss how the Salem witch trials began, the people who were involved, and the the story of the Salem witch trials and how Massachusetts recovered from the horrid event.

Most people believe that during the Salem witch trials the supposed witches were burnt at the stake which was not true; however, during the witch hunt in Europe, most of them were burnt. The Salem witch trials were a series of executions that took place in Salem Town and Salem Village, Massachusetts. These trials happened because the people were believed to have practiced witchcraft. Throughout these trials, twenty people were executed, and many more put in jail. Throughout history and in modern times, witches were seen as evil mythical people who were possessed by the devil; this was the case in 1692 in Massachusetts.

The Salem Witch Trials were a controversial part of history as many innocent people lost their lives for many reasons, one mostly that the girls pretended to be bewitched so they can get rid of their enemies. The consequences of these events were long lasting as many mysteries of the Trials were uncovered long after. The important topics are on how the girls quite possibly faked being “sick”, which led to the executions in Salem, the mass hysteria and many repercussions after a certain crisis in Colonial America nearly three-hundred and fifteen years ago.

The Salem Witch Trials involved many individuals that were accused of witchery. There were not extensive methods of execution involved in these trials and many accused of witchery had very similar life situations and circumstances. Through history, including the Salem Witch Trials, it was very common for women to be the majority of accused witches and more so if they were middle aged. If a woman had a fiery or stubborn reputation this could also have been seen as a link to the Devil and witchcraft. It was more than likely if someone had been accused of petty crimes such as theft, treason or witchcraft that you would have been accused at some time throughout Salem’s trials.

Einstein once said, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who do nothing” (Gurteen). The Salem witch trials began in the Spring of 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts. A group of young girls, who claimed to be possessed by the devil, began accusing a few women of witchcraft, which caused hysteria among the people in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Approximately 150 people were convicted of practicing witchcraft, 19 were hanged at Gallows Hill, and others died in captivity (“Salem Witch Trials”). These tragic events lead to the convictions of many innocent people in Salem Village and later in Salem Town, Ipswich, Gloucester, and other towns (Brooks). The Salem witch trials are a