Between the months of June to September of 1692, the infamous witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts resulted in the hanging of 19 men and women; the deaths of five others, including two children, while imprisoned in jail; the pressing to death of an 80-year old man, and the stoning of two dogs for collaborating with the Devil. Hundreds of others faced accusations and dozens more were jailed for months during the progress of the trials. For over three hundred years these events have not only captured the general publics' imagination, but that of the academic community. Beginning with Charles Upham, in 1867, historians have attempted to explain the mass hysteria that swept through Salem in 1692. These accounts vary both in their. Then, in 1676, Charles II began reviewing the charter of the Massachusetts colony with the intent of revoking it altogether.
Even nature conspired against the Puritans. Terrible fires broke out in Boston and the plague was the worst in years. In the midst of such events, the New England Puritans called a special synod in 1679. There, two questions were asked: 'What are the evils which have called the judgment of God upon us?' And 'What is to be done to reform these evils?' The synod agreed that the evils responsible for the recent catastrophes were such things as pride in heart and body, a spiritual falling away, excessive profanity, breakdown of family life, and failure to observe the Sabbath. They insisted that God would be pleased only when the people repented of these sins and turned to him. To aid in this, the synod suggested that congregations exercise closer discipline and that the magistrates also enforce public discipline. But the synod did not bring about the reawakening of religious fervor, nor did it halt the problems that beset the colony of New England. In 1684, Massachusetts lost its charter and was given a royal governor who was a member of the Anglican Church. Thus, by 1692 the faith of the Puritans in their divine mission was faltering. More and more sermons contained a dreadful prophesy; ministers warned settlers to expect God to turn upon them in wrath. The Salem Witch Trials Introduction The Salem Witch Trials lasted a time span of 13 months, during which 200 people were accused and 19 people were hung. This was a dark time period in American history because people believe young, teenage girls and it led to people getting killed. The Salem Witch Trials was one of the most important events in American history because many innocent people had their lives taken; even people with power. The Beginning The Salem Witch Trials started in 1692 when Words 901 - Pages 4. Salem Village had a very colorful history before the famous witch trials. It was not exactly known as a bastion of tranquillity in New England. The main reason was its 600 plus residents were divided into two main parts: those who wanted to separate from Salem Town, and those who did not. The residents who wanted to separate from Salem Town were farming families located in the western part of Salem Village. Those who wanted to remain a part of Salem Town were typically located on the eastern side Words 4225 - Pages 17. Salem Witchcraft Puritans believed in witches and their ability to harm others. They defined witchcraft as entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil. Thus, witchcraft was considered a sin because it denied God’s superiority, and a crime because the witch could call up the Devil in his/her shape to perform cruel acts against others. Therefore, in any case when witchcraft was suspected, it was important that it was investigated thoroughly and the tormentor(s) Words 2474 - Pages 10. Trials of Conspiracies Something that is so controversial and still stirs up paranoia is witch trials. The Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials cost many people their lives, planted a seed of paranoia around the world, and affected many people. Witch Trials have been around for centuries and follow the practice of magic and use of spells and spirits towards others. The Salem witch trials in specific were significant because the public had let this topic become out of control and so widely spoken of so soon. In Massachusetts 1692, three young girls had a strange feeling coming over them. They started feeling controlled and would Words 3799 - Pages 16. On the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Imagine, just for a minute, living in a time and place where you are not free to practice your own religious or spiritual beliefs and you are forced to live in fear because of persecution by the church and everyone around you. Persecution back in 1692 in Salem Massachusetts was a horrible thing. Those persecuted were hanged, burned, and even pressed against rocks if found guilty of witchcraft. Nineteen men and women were carted to Gallows Hill near Salem Village Words 1304 - Pages 6. List of 5 Possible Causes of the Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials were a series of witchcraft trials that took place in 1692 in Massachusetts. Salem Witch Trials Religion ArticleNearly 200 people were accused of witchcraft and by the end of the trials, 19 were sentenced to death by hanging and executed. The historians agree that the Witch Trials were a result of mass hysteria but there are several theories about its causes. Listed below are 5 possible reasons for one of the most tragic events in American history. Boredom Words 531 - Pages 3. In Salem Village, and there is no evidence from the time that Tituba practiced Caribbean black magic, yet these trials and executions actually still took place, how can you explain why they occurred? The Salem Witchcraft Trials began not as an act of revenge against an ex-lover, as they did in The Crucible, but as series of seemingly unlinked, complex events, which a paranoid and scared group of people incorrectly linked. ![]() And while there were countless other witchcraft trials, Salem trials remain Words 2046 - Pages 9. In February 1692, the Massachusetts Bay Colony town of Salem Village found itself at the center of a notorious case of mass hysteria: eight young women accused their neighbors of witchcraft. Trials ensued and, when the episode concluded in May 1693, fourteen women, five men, and two dogs had been executed for their supposed supernatural crimes. The Salem witch trials occupy a unique place in our collective history. The mystery around the hysteria and miscarriage of justice continue to inspire new critiques, most recently with today’s release of by Pulitzer Prize-winning Stacy Schiff. But what caused the mass hysteria, false accusations, and lapses in due process? Scholars have attempted to answer these questions with a variety of economic and physiological theories. The economic theories of the Salem events tend to be two-fold: the first attributes the witchcraft trials to an economic downturn caused by a “little ice age” that lasted from 1550-1800; the second cites socioeconomic issues in Salem itself. Posits that the “little ice age” caused economic deterioration and food shortages that led to anti-witch fervor in communities in both the United States and Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Temperatures began to drop at the beginning of the fourteenth century, with the coldest periods occurring from 1680 to 1730. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. All Rights Reserved. Cause Of Salem Witch Trials![]() Salem Witch Trials Religious Causes Of WwiiJSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. JSTOR®, the JSTOR logo, and ITHAKA® are registered trademarks of ITHAKA.
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