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

2. 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

3. Colonial Women

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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