1. By: Nina Pacella, Cassy Pagac, Oliver Klesing, Evan Surinck
Witchcraft
By: Nina Pacella, Cassy Pagac, Oliver Klesing, Evan Surinck

2. Maleficium & Theological
1. Maleficium—Sorcery.
2. Theological—Where the witches made a covenant with the Devil and that is how they acquired their magical powers. It was common for these types of witches to be marked with a “witches mark” such as an extra nipple from which familiars of the Devil could nurse.

3. Legal Concepts
If found guilty under the 1604 law, the sentence was death, unlike under some of the earlier laws, where less harsh punishments could have been granted. The legal background of witchcraft is a very important piece of the puzzle of Salem.

4. Who were considered to be witches?
People who were considered to be witches back in the day were people who had spoiled beer or cheese, a family cow that was dried up, or someone who had people die that they knew.

5. How does property come into this?
Property played a major role for figuring out what women were witches. Women who owned property were considered witches, and they were “somewhat less fecund” than other women, and they had different personalities.

6. Ergotism
Ergot is a fungus that contains the same things that are used in the modern day drug LSD. Though the puritans did not know it was harmful, they thought it was sun baked kernels of grains. Ergotism is a poisoning that was once a common condition resulting from eating contaminated rye bread. 
At the time of the trials rye was one of the most grown grains in Salem. But the puritans instead of eating it right away stored it for months before eating, giving it time to grow the ergot fungus. The “possessed” attained the same symptoms that they would have if they got ergot poisoning; such as, burning, itching or crawling sensations on the skin, convulsions, hallucinations and psychosis.

7. Stress and Clinical Hysteria
Stress and clinical hysteria have many of the same symptoms that the said "possessed" had in Salem. Stress can produce symptoms like the feeling of choking, being bitten, and strange postures, which have no physical causes, that society interpreted as the possession from a witch.

8. Witchcraft Today They don’t use supernatural powers
It’s a religion called Wicca which means “bent one” which is the old/wise ones who used potions and spells to cure people.
Their sacred objects include:
Broom, wand, candles, crystals, and a knife called “athame”.
They don’t use supernatural powers
Only natural powers
Wear pentagrams and moon neclasses to know who the followers are.

9. Modern Day Treatment They have to hide their faith
One follower said, “ they don’t burn you at the stake anymore, but I'm sure they would love to”.
Discriminated against
Ex.- after a divorce, a witch
didn’t get custody of her children
because of her beliefs.