What Caused the Salem Witch Crisis of 1692? Halloween Supplement

Historical Background 1400’s-1600’s – Witch Hunts in Europe Coincided with political instability (Thirty Year’s War) Last witch convicted in England: 1682

Salem, Massachusetts 1691-1693 in Salem Village… Abigail Williams (11) & Elizabeth “Betty” Parris (9) fell ill

Abigail and Elizabeth Complained of : pinching, prickling sensations, knifelike pains, and the feeling of being choked. three more girls showed similar symptoms

“Victims of Witchcraft” Doctor & Reverend suggested witchcraft might be the cause of odd behavior Pressured girls to name witches who were “torturing them”

The First “Witches” Identified Girls identified Tituba and 2 white women (Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne) as “witches” Tituba confessed to being a witch, and testified that four women and a man were causing the girls’ illness Accusations began!

The First “Witches” Identified The girls continued to accuse people of witchcraft all arrested and awaited trial in jail

In groups, examine the documents (A,B,C,D) Why do you think the people of Salem believed the girls’ accusations of witchcraft? In groups, examine the documents (A,B,C,D) According to the documents, what caused the Salem Witch crisis of 1692? Discuss your findings as a group and complete the chart individually.

Economic & Social Divisions Divisions in Salem: 1. Salem Town – Prosperous port , commercial center Population: 1,400 2. Salem Village – Poor farming region on the periphery Population: 550 (Document D)

Relationship Between Town & Village Town depended on Village for food Town collected (and) set high taxes for Village Villagers resented Salem Town for their “materialism”

The Accused Most of the accusations made by Villagers (“poor” side) Middle Aged wives & widows From Town (“prosperous” side) The Accused : had unexplicable blemishes (moles), were Unfeminine, aggressive and disliked

Testimony of Abigail Hobbs http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal2R?div_id=n69

Historical Re-enactment -Scene#1

Scene #2

You’re Accused! What Will You Do???? A. FLEE SALEM (B) ACCUSE SOMEONE ELSE (C)  QUICK! GET PREGNANT (D)  CONFESS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE INNOCENT (E)  PLEAD INNOCENT AND STAND FOR TRIAL (F)  REFUSE TO STAND FOR TRIAL AND FACE THE CONSEQUENCES

Spectral Evidence allowed in court The afflicted girls were often kept in the courtroom as evidence while the accused were examined. If they screamed and claimed that the accused witch was torturing them, the judge would have to believe their visions (spectral evidence)

Examining the Trial Records http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal2R?div_id=n106 Case Files Choose 1 case file and go over it in your group 1. Who did you read about ? What was the person accused of? 2. What did you learn by reading this document?

Statistics- 1692 134 were accused of witchcraft 24 males, 110 females 20 men and women were convicted of witchcraft & suffered death penalty 7 died in jail while awaiting trial

Statistics - 1692 19 accused witches were hanged on Gallows Hill in 1692 The 1st: June 10th Bridget Bishop The last: September 22nd: Samuel Wardwell 1 man Giles Corey was pressed to death on September 19th

Doubts grew when… 1. respected citizens were convicted and executed 2.  Accusations of witchcraft included the powerful and well-connected 3.  The educated elite of Boston pressured the Governor to exclude spectral evidence (lacked legal credibility)

As a result… 1. the importance of innocent until proven guilty. 2. the importance of “credible evidence” in court. “The Wicked Witches of Massachusetts,” (2015) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egjNhXhkRmE&t=4s

Salem, Mass.

Salem Today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieu7laGGVz4 Salem Massachusetts as a tourist destination? What are your thoughts?

Salem Memorial

Works Cited http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/17docs.html http://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/Salem%20Lesson%20Plan.pdf