1. Background Notes on Salem
The Crucible
Background Notes on Salem

2. What Happened? 1689 – Samuel Parris hired as minister of Salem Village
January 20, 1692, Parris’ daughter and several other girls become sick
February – Dr. Griggs examines the girls and decides that they have been bewitched
Feb. 29th – Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osbourne are arrested for witchcraft.
Tituba confesses to save her life and gives more names

3. What Happened? Over 150 people were arrested and imprisoned
5 died in prison
26 went to trial and were all convicted
19 were hanged and one was pressed to death.
October 1692, the court was dissolved
May 1693, Gov. Phipps pardons those who were accused and still living.
Courts no longer allowed spectral evidence

4. Puritans & Life in Salem
The wilderness was nearby seen as a place of the devil. It’s where the Indians live.
Suffer Indian attacks
Believed that God told them to settle here…they were to be the light of the world, a perfect society.
They left for religious freedom, but persecuted anyone who had different beliefs here

5. Puritans & Life in Salem
Belief in Predestination looked for signs of God’s favor to see if they were going to heaven or hell.
Limited medical knowledge….many things that could not be explained by medicine were said to be caused by something SUPERNATURAL

6. Puritans & Life in Salem
Their rules were strict, but as time passed and conditions got better:
Some people wanted to loosen the rules
Others felt they should remain strict
This caused A LOT of tension in Salem Political Fighting
Believed in the existence of witches
Believed that the devil was everywhere

7. Puritans & Life in Salem
Believed that women were more likely to be witches because they were more likely to sin
Constant fighting over land boundaries
Small Pox epidemic
Political fighting between Salem Town (Merchants, Shipping) and Salem Village (Farming)

8. Salem Village vs. Salem Town
Farming
Less and less land available
No Meeting House (Church) & have to travel to Salem Town
Wants independence from Salem Town
Merchants, Shipping
Meeting House
Political Power

9. Salem Village vs. Salem Town
Village wanted independence from the town.
Finally compromise allowed village to have own minister and meeting house, but they were still tied politically to TOWN
Political Power

10. Salem Village vs. Salem Town
Tension between rich and poor in village
East Village: Rich land, roads, access to market
West Village: Poor land, no roads, difficult to access market
More prosperous with trade to Europe
More $ = More Power = More Political influence
Town collected Taxes from the Village

11. Salem Village vs. Salem Town
Problem of “revolving ministers”
Village supports Reverend Parris
Factions develop in Village (Anti vs Pro Parris)
Opposed Parris

12. Salem Village vs. Salem Town
ANTI- Parris Villagers Small businessmen whose livelihoods depend on the Town
Prosperous village farmers with access to town market,
Most of the accused witches came from this group
Why?
Against Parris

13. Salem Village vs. Salem Town
PRO Parris Villagers Middle income farmers and church members,
poor farmers who were not church members
leading citizens who make the accusations
Why?
Against Parris