Salem Witch Trials Research Paper - 1340 Words

Einstein once said, â€Å"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who do nothing† (Gurteen). The Salem witch trials began in the Spring of 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts. A group of young girls, who claimed to be possessed by the devil, began accusing a few women of witchcraft, which caused hysteria among the people in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Approximately 150 people were convicted of practicing witchcraft, 19 were hanged at Gallows Hill, and others died in captivity (â€Å"Salem Witch Trials†). These tragic events lead to the convictions of many innocent people in Salem Village and later in Salem Town, Ipswich, Gloucester, and other towns (Brooks). The Salem witch trials are a†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, many other difficult situations were appearing for colonists in Salem Village, including a smallpox epidemic, threats from neighboring Native Americans, a rivalry with Salem Town, and the arriva l of many Canadian refugees following a war with France (â€Å"Salem Witch Trials†). The numerous issues leading up to the Salem witch trials caused large amounts of stress and trepidation, and initiated a chaotic chain of events. The witch trials began when nine girls, known as the afflicted girls, experienced strange symptoms. In the beginning, there were only five afflicted girls: Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Mary Walcott, and Mercy Lewis. Elizabeth Hubbard, Susannah Sheldon, Mary Warren, and Elizabeth Booth later began experiencing the symptoms, which involved strange fits, irregular body contortions, and fevers. Although the symptoms seem phenomenal, modern theories suggest that the children were merely bored, abused, or had epilepsy, a mental illness, or a disease that was obtained from eating rye bread infected with a fungus. Reverend Samuel Parris, Betty Parris’ father, asked Dr. William Griggs to deduce the problem, and Dr. Griggs concluded that they were bewitched. The group of girls accused three women of causing their unnatural behaviors: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, a slave owned by Samuel Parris. The women were easy targets for the girls because they were outcasts (Brooks). Sarah Good was a beggar, SarahShow MoreRelatedThe Salem Witch Trials - a Research Paper1993 Words   |  8 Pagesthe afflicted children to look upon her and see if this was the person that had hurt them so. They all gazed at Goody Good and said that this was the person that tormented themÂâ€"presently they were all tormented.brbrPuritanical beliefs had all of Salem truly believing that witches rode on broomsticks across the sky every night alongside the devil himself. They believed that these mere humans could send their specter out and haunt the children of their town. Proof of their belief follows, in anRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials, Mccarthyism, And Today s Events With Isis860 Words   |  4 Pagesalways a group being persecu ted is because nobody wants to be a part of the victimized group. The Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and today’s events with ISIS are all similar because in all of these situations, people live in a state of fear and suspision. During the Salem Witch Trials, Francis Nurse started a petition to prove the innocence of his wife and other women. In court, Procter handed the paper to the judge and said, â€Å"Will you read this first, sir? It’s a sort of testament. The people signingRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials of 1692941 Words   |  4 PagesA. Plan of the investigation The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark and very crucial time in American history. The late sixteen hundreds consisted of relying on young girls for the truth; but to what extent did the puritan’s religion and culture have in the proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials? A focus on the religion that the puritans believed in and their culture will be discussed. Also, how their faith turned them against those who were accused of witchcraft. It is also neededRead MoreEssay on Did Religion Impact American History?561 Words   |  3 Pagesincluding politics, people and weather. Politics and people are widely impacted by religion. Religion is the primary cause of most wars in countries across the world. Many historians believe America was formed on the basis of religion. In this research paper, I will illustrate the impact religion had on American History to 1877. Specifically, it will examine: 1) Major events impacting traditional religious beliefs in America, 2 ) Religious disputes which impacted land development, and 3) The impactRead MoreWitchcraft And The Puritan Culture985 Words   |  4 PagesTituba is rarely at the center of attention when the Salem Witch trials come into discussion. In fact, the only time she seems to ever be mentioned is to state that she is the link between witchcraft and the adolescent girls of Salem (Breslaw. Xx). Witchcraft is defined, by Webster’s dictionary, as the â€Å"magical things that are done by witches: the use of magical powers obtained especially from evil spirits†. Although words are known to change throughout the years, witchcraft, for the most partRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials : A Day By Day Chronicle Of A Community Under Siege Essay1671 Words   |  7 PagesThe book I have chosen to write about is â€Å"The Salem Witch Trials: A Day by Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege† written by Marilynne K. Roach and published in 2002. Marilynne K. Roach is the president of the Historical Society of Watertown and a member of the Watertown Historical Commission board, she also is an active board member and a curator of the Salem Witch Museum. She has multiple books that have been published about the Salem and the trials that occurred in the late 17th and early 18thRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Miller s The Crucible 961 Words   |  4 Pages Movie paper analysis of The crucible The circumstance brought upon a person can change them greatly. The Crucible edited and rewritten by Arthur Miller, is a movie which takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. The leading actors are Daniel Day-Lewis as Proctor, Winona Ryder as Abigail, Paul Scofield as Judge Danforth, Joan Allen as Elizabeth, Bruce Davison as Parris, and Rob Campbell as Hale. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner and was Based on the witch hunt which surrounded MassachusettsRead MoreSocial Factors Of The Salem Witch Trials1439 Words   |  6 PagesSalem, Massachusetts, known for its history of witchcraft in the seventeenth century. The accusation of witchcraft lead to the Salem witch trials; A series of trials which examined the people whom were accused of witchcraft. Men and women of the Massachusetts Bay colony were being accused of witchcraft, multiple factors played a role in this event. This paper will discuss factors that lead people to being accused of being witches; Including, the behav iors and social situations of the accused, politicalRead MoreImpact of Religion on American History to 1877934 Words   |  4 Pagesincluding politics, people and weather. Politics and people are widely impacted by religion. Religion is the primary cause of most wars in countries across the world. Many historians believe America was formed on the basis of religion. In this research paper, I will illustrate the impact religion had on American History to 1877. Specifically, it will examine: 1) Major events impacting traditional religious beliefs in America, 2) Religious disputes which impacted land development, and 3) The impactRead MoreAccusation And Defense Of The Salem Witchcraft Trials1658 Words   |  7 PagesRESEARCH PAPER Accusation and defense in the Salem witchcraft trials Suraj Gamal History 1301-73001-73002 JOE L. MCCAMBRIDGE - HISTORY 1301-1302 One of the most infamous Trial in history took place on March 1, 1692. According, to the Library of Congress, Massachusetts authorities catechized Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and an Indian Slave, Tituba regarding their practice in witchcraft. The trial resulted in more than 150 men and women in and around Salem jailed on charges of practicing Witchcraft