Women in the Northern Colonies and the Salem Witch Trials United States History Mr. Vanderporten

Women in the North Had few legal rights just as in the South, could not vote Women could not buy/sell property, keep their own wages if they worked outside the home New England: Religion and law keep women down Wives must submit to their husbands

Colonial Women

Role of Women Young girls were often married at 13 or 14 years old Married for economic benefits, not love Husbands could legally beat their wives If a woman murdered her husband she would be burned alive Socially humiliating if a woman was not married by 25 years old

Salem Witchcraft Trials One of the most bizarre events in American history Numerous causes: strictness on women, social tension, strained relationships with Native Americans, religious fanaticism February 1692: Several Salem (Mass.) girls accuse West Indian woman of practicing witchcraft People are constantly afraid of violence and death in Salem Girls begin accusing each other of witchcraft

Salem Witchcraft Trials More and more people make accusations Many of the poor residents accuse the rich of being witches Some women accused of being witches were “too independent” Even charged the governor’s wife, officials will not take this case to court Witchcraft hysteria ends: 19 persons hanged, 1 person killed by being crushed to death

I’ve been to Salem! (Summer of ‘96) My brother Steve and I in Salem, MA