1. activator Close reading Corroborate Pgs. 79-81 in American Pageant
What caused the Salem hysteria?
Corroborate

2. Was the Salem Witchcraft hysteria a product of women’s search for power?
Period 2. Key Concept

3. key concept 2.III.i
“Atlantic World” commercial, religious, philosophical, and political interactions among Europeans, Africans, and American native peoples stimulated economic growth, expanded social networks, and reshaped labor systems.

4. contextualize
Why do you think the people of Salem believed the girls’ accusations of witchcraft?
Even if the people of Salem truly believed in witchcraft, why would there be so many accusations all at once, all of a sudden?

5. context: Puritanism English Protestants (including Calvinists)
Blocked from changing the (Anglican) Church of England from within
Restricted in England by laws controlling religious practices. Fled to the Netherlands, then N. America.
Felt like the English Protestant Reformation had not gone far enough; Church of England was too tolerant of the Catholic Church.

6. context Traditional historical pattern Salem Political turmoil
Political impasse between English authorities and Massachusetts Bay Colony
Economic dislocation
Economic tensions between commercial and agricultural interests
Social stress
Disagreements between Salem Town and Salem Village
Accused almost all women
75% of accused were women

7. theories
Women = evil, deeply embedded in Puritan and European worldview (Carol Karlsen)
Lies (Marion Starkey)
Black magic (George Braziller)
Conflicts between Salem Town vs. Salem Village (Paul Boyer)
Fear of French & Indian border attacks (Mary Beth Norton)

8. debate Gender, conformity, powerlessness (Kyle Koehler)
Physical and neurological behaviors resulted from an unrecognized epidemic (Laurie Winn Carlson)

9. close reading Analyze: thesis, claims, evidence, language Evaluate:
Is the thesis plausible?
Is the evidence sufficient or compelling?
Is the language persuasive?
Share

10. processing
Was the Salem Witchcraft hysteria a product of women’s search for power?
3/4 Your post answers the questions directly; analyzes a historical claim, evidence, and reasoning; and refers to source material from class activities.
4/4 Your post answers the question directly; evaluates a historical claim, evidence, and reasoning; refers to source material from class activities; and contains evidence of historical thinking (sourcing, contextualization, corroboration, and close reading).