The Salem Witch Trials in the American Colonies She’s A Witch! The Salem Witch Trials in the American Colonies

Overview Main Topics The Lead up to the Trials The Trials and Aftermath The Reasons for the Trials Significance of these Reasons

The Lead up to the Trials Elizabeth Parris (Age 9) and Abigail Williams (Age 11) begin having fits Violent contortions Outbursts of screaming Daughter and niece of Salem’s minister Samuel Parris Doctor says the girls are bewitched Not long after diagnosis, more girls begin to show similar symptoms

The Lead up to the Trial February, 1692 Parris’ Carribean slave Tituba arrested and charged with witchcraft Bewitched children identified 2 other women: Sarah Good Homeless Beggar Sarah Osborn Poor and elderly

The Trials 3 suspects are brought to court Alleged victims in court having spasms and screaming Good and Osborn deny guilt Tituba confesses Says there are other witches working with her More people accused Including Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse Comes as surprise Both considered upstanding members of church

The Trials Newly accused witches accused more people of witchcraft Hysteria began to spread across the colony Governor William Phips Orders Court of Oyer to be formed Goal was to hear these cases and resolve them First conviction: Bridget Bishop Hanged

The Trials Many of the accused witches died in jail 150 witches die in entirety of trials Cotton Mather Son of the President of Harvard Said evidence in witchcraft trials must match that of any other case 1693 Court of Oyer dissolved Public support dropping at this point

Aftermath Early 1693 Governor Phips pardoned any remaining witches 1697 Puritan communities commemorate “Tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials” The Court eventually said the trials were unlawful 1711 Names of the condemned are cleared Heirs are given financial restitution

Reasons for the Trials Belief in Supernatural Belief that the Devil could give people power to hurt someone Recent War Between British and French in Colonies Smallpox Epidemic Fear of attacks by Native Americans Behavior of Residents Suspicion/Resentment toward their neighbors Fear of Outsiders

Why Are These Reasons Significant? Belief in Supernatural Very religious community “City on a Hill” Mentality Recent War Between England and France in Colonies Smallpox Epidemic Both of these cause tension and disenchantment in the colonies among its people Attack by Native Americans Adds to fear already there from war and epidemic

Why Are these Reasons Significant? Suspicion/Resentment Toward Neighbors Many of people charged Poor Elderly Widows Do not play a significant role in Puritan society Cannot earn money or do not have much money Cannot contribute to the community in a significant way

Why are these reasons Significant? Fear of Outsiders Puritan communities Close and tight knit communities Outsiders=> The Unknown Outsiders have not lived in community their entire lives Very few if any people know them Puts their motivations and intentions up for question.