Essay about Salem Witch Trials - 1106 Words

Salem Witch Trials Throughout history citizens have branded people as witches, and warlocks. Maybe, a person acts different than ourselves, or they have strange habits, does this make them a witch? In the Massachusetts Bay Colony in January of 1692, you would be branded a witch for these odd doings. Being accused of witch craft had serious consequences. At the residence of Reverend Samuel Parris in the village of Salem is where the witchcraft crises broke out (Wilson, 18). Within his house was his nine year old daughter Betty Parris, and her eleven year old cousin Abigail Williams (19). Together, they played with white magic, but so did many of the teenage girls in the village (19). On Samuel Parriss journey from Barbados†¦show more content†¦Soon after his diagnoses his maid servant began to suffer the symptoms (23). He most likely came to his diagnosis from Reverend Cotton Mathers book, Memorable Providences Relation to Witchcraft and Possession (23). Within the book it told how Cott on Mather had successfully cured witchcraft through praying, and fasting (Wilson, 23). Samuel Parris now began to practice the same method, inviting the entire congregation to do the same (23). Not only did they do it, but had the church Deacons, and other various church leaders help him to pray (23). No matter what they did the children still continued to shriek and carry on, and then ask what they had just done (23). Reverend Parris continued to pray, and fast, until, Mary Sibley, a member of the church gave his servants Tituba, and her husband a recipe for witch cake ( Wilson, 23). Sibley believed that the cake would aid in the discovery of who the witch was (23). John Indian collected the childrens urine, mixed it with rye, and gave it to Tituba to bake in ashes. They then fed the mixture to the household dog. According to English legend the dog would then go straight to whoever was the witch, because dogs are close to the devils agents (23). However, the only thing the mixture did was make the dog extremely ill. Samuel Parris became enraged when found out Mary Sibley had gone to the devil for help against the devil (Wilson, 24). He publicly accused her, forcing herShow MoreRelatedSalem Witch Trials And The Witch Trial1494 Words   |  6 PagesFirst of all, I wanted to talk about what Salem Witch Trial is and who are the persons involve in this event. Salem Witch Trials, according to Encyclopedia Britannica is â€Å"A series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted â€Å"witches† to be hanged and many other many suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.† There are many people involve in Salem Witch Trials and I’ll be going to describe their role in this event, followed by the different case studiesRead MoreSalem Witch Trials And The Witch Trial Essay2225 Words   |  9 Pagesaccused of witchcraft in Salem Village, Massachusetts, many more died in jail, and around 200 people total were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Records from the event indicate that the Salem Witch Trials started when a group of young girls began acting strange, claiming they had been possessed by the Devil and bewitched by local villagers. The Salem Witch Trials is a much debated event; historians argue over the motivation and causes behind the trials and executions, not overRead MoreThe Trial Of The Salem Witch Trials905 Words   |  4 PagesI. Introduction In January 1692, when a group of juvenile girls began to display bizarre behavior, the tight-knit Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts couldn’t explain the unusual afflictions and came to a conclusion. Witches had invaded Salem. This was the beginning of a period of mass hysteria known as The Salem Witch Trials. Hundreds of people were falsely accused of witchcraft and many paid the ultimate price of death. Nineteen people were hung, one was pressed to death, and as many asRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials691 Words   |  3 Pageswere the Salem Witch Trials? The Trials happened in 1692 in Puritan Massachusetts, in a town called Salem. Nineteen men and women were hanged on grounds of practicing dark magic and making a pact with Satan (in other words, for being witches). 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The idea of the devil controlling a womanRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials1866 Words   |  8 Pagessurrounding the cause of the Salem Witch Trials 1692 makes the topic captivating as many historian perspectives offer explanations for the causation of the trials, yet the personal context of each historian has determined its historic reliability. This questions the level of objectivity each historian has in their responses to the Trials. The aims and purposes of a historian, as well as their differing methodologies may alter the approach the have towards the investigation of the Trials. Many interpretationsRead MoreThe Trials Of Salem Witch Trials Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesThe notorious witch trials in Salem began in Spring of 1692. This started after a young group of girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, professed they were possessed by the devil. These young girls even went as far as accusing some local women of practicing witchcraft. 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The Salem Witch Trials occurred in 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. â€Å"More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft – the Devil’s magic – and 20 were executed† as detailed by Jess Blumberg on the web article A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials (Blumberg 2007). The trials had a major impact on the American society and the effects could be seen in colonial America as well as today. Why did the injustice of the Salam Witch Trials occur and whyRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials2197 Words   |  9 Pagesestablish colonies based on the word of God. Salem, like many other towns at the time, had little distinction between church and state and focused all aspects of their society on God. (Roach) Due to these conditions, Salem became the site of the largest and most violent witch hunts in America. The significance of the trials comes from the large impact they had on American law. The conditions before, during, and after the Salem Trials were unlike the witch hunts in any other colonies in the New World