The Salem Witch Trials “Examination of a Witch”

The History In 1692, the British colony of Massachusetts was swept by a witchcraft hysteria. In 1692, the British colony of Massachusetts was swept by a witchcraft hysteria. It resulted in the execution of 20 people, the jailing of 150 more, and the killing of 2 dogs. It resulted in the execution of 20 people, the jailing of 150 more, and the killing of 2 dogs. It is estimated that between 1 and 9 million Europeans were executed for witchcraft in the 1500s and 1600s. It is estimated that between 1 and 9 million Europeans were executed for witchcraft in the 1500s and 1600s.

Why were people accused of being witches? People in Europe practiced traditional folk culture People in Europe practiced traditional folk culture gathering herbs to prevent or treat diseases gathering herbs to prevent or treat diseases worshiping elements or parts of the natural world rather than a specific god worshiping elements or parts of the natural world rather than a specific god practicing pagan songs and rituals practicing pagan songs and rituals Contention in the colonies and other immigrants scared the Puritans Contention in the colonies and other immigrants scared the Puritans

So what does this all mean? Some people in Salem, Massachusetts were becoming too outwardly “religious” instead of inwardly “spiritual.” Some people in Salem, Massachusetts were becoming too outwardly “religious” instead of inwardly “spiritual.” People believed there was a conspiracy by Satan to conquer the colony by witches. People believed there was a conspiracy by Satan to conquer the colony by witches.

How it started... Betty Parris became strangely ill. She dashed about, dove under furniture, contorted in pain, and complained of fever. The cause of her symptoms may have been some combination of stress, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, epilepsy, and delusional psychosis. Talk of witchcraft increased when other playmates of Betty, including eleven-year-old Ann Putnam, seventeen-year-old Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott, began to exhibit similar unusual behavior. A doctor called to examine the girls, suggested that the girls' problems might have a supernatural origin. The widespread belief that witches targeted children made the doctor's diagnosis seem increasingly likely. -Douglas Linder

The Year-1692 January January Parris’ daughter, Betty, and niece, Abigail Williams begin acting strangely and babbling incoherently. The village physician documents their ailments as hysteria. Parris’ daughter, Betty, and niece, Abigail Williams begin acting strangely and babbling incoherently. The village physician documents their ailments as hysteria.

The “Black Magic” Remedy February 25, 1692: February 25, 1692: Parris’ Caribbean Indian slaves, Tituba and John Indian, bake a “witch cake” with the girls’ urine to feed to the village dog. Parris’ Caribbean Indian slaves, Tituba and John Indian, bake a “witch cake” with the girls’ urine to feed to the village dog. Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes the "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes the "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. According to English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail. According to English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail. The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil. The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil.

A witch cake is composed of rye meal mixed with urine from the afflicted children. It is then fed to a dog. The person is considered bewitched if the dog displays similar symptoms as the afflicted. A witch cake is composed of rye meal mixed with urine from the afflicted children. It is then fed to a dog. The person is considered bewitched if the dog displays similar symptoms as the afflicted. What is Witch Cake?

Spectral Evidence “ “ The girls contorted into grotesque poses, fell down into frozen postures, and complained of biting and pinching sensations. In a village where everyone believed that the devil was real, close at hand, and acted in the real world, the suspected affliction of the girls became an obsession.” Douglas Linder

The Court’s Remedy Early March: Early March: Samuel Parris files a complaint to the governor for a court to be issued. The colony operated in self-government until the end of Samuel Parris files a complaint to the governor for a court to be issued. The colony operated in self-government until the end of Preliminary Arrests Preliminary Arrests February 29, 1692: Arrest warrants are issued for Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. February 29, 1692: Arrest warrants are issued for Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne.

What were they investigating and how did they punish? 1. Bound Submersion-- In this “test,” the supposed witch would be bound by her hands and feet with heavy rocks attached to her body, then thrown into a body of water. A witch’s body would presumably float, and an innocent woman would sink to the bottom. It was pretty much a lose-lose situation. 1. Bound Submersion-- In this “test,” the supposed witch would be bound by her hands and feet with heavy rocks attached to her body, then thrown into a body of water. A witch’s body would presumably float, and an innocent woman would sink to the bottom. It was pretty much a lose-lose situation. 2. The Lord’s Prayer Test-- If the accused could not recite the Lord’s Prayer without any errors, she was most certainly a witch. 2. The Lord’s Prayer Test-- If the accused could not recite the Lord’s Prayer without any errors, she was most certainly a witch. 3. The Witch’s Teat Test-- In this test, the accused would be pricked in any type of mole or blemish they may happen to have on their body. If it didn’t bleed, she was definitely a witch. 3. The Witch’s Teat Test-- In this test, the accused would be pricked in any type of mole or blemish they may happen to have on their body. If it didn’t bleed, she was definitely a witch. 4. Making a Witch Cake-- Sounds tasty, right? Eh, not so much. This cake was made with rye and the supposed victim’s urine. They would feed it to a dog, and if the accused felt pain, she was a witch. Think of it as a confectionary voodoo doll. 4. Making a Witch Cake-- Sounds tasty, right? Eh, not so much. This cake was made with rye and the supposed victim’s urine. They would feed it to a dog, and if the accused felt pain, she was a witch. Think of it as a confectionary voodoo doll. 5. Pressing-- This was another way to torture the accused into admitting she was a witch. The problem was that the victim couldn’t really speak under the weight of the heavy stones, so that didn’t work out too well. 5. Pressing-- This was another way to torture the accused into admitting she was a witch. The problem was that the victim couldn’t really speak under the weight of the heavy stones, so that didn’t work out too well.

6. Sarcasm-- A famous constable in Salem once said jokingly and out of frustration, “Hang them all, they’re all witches.” Unfortunately, nobody else shared his sense of sarcasm. 6. Sarcasm-- A famous constable in Salem once said jokingly and out of frustration, “Hang them all, they’re all witches.” Unfortunately, nobody else shared his sense of sarcasm. 7. Bad Hearing-- In the case of Salem’s 71-year-old Rebecca Nurse, her hearing was the death of her. When asked to respond to allegations of witchcraft, Nurse failed to respond, because she didn’t even hear the question. That’s all it took! 7. Bad Hearing-- In the case of Salem’s 71-year-old Rebecca Nurse, her hearing was the death of her. When asked to respond to allegations of witchcraft, Nurse failed to respond, because she didn’t even hear the question. That’s all it took! 8. Talking to Yourself--Accusers assumed this was the “witch” muttering spells. 8. Talking to Yourself--Accusers assumed this was the “witch” muttering spells. 9. Weighing Them Against a Stack of Bibles--If the suspected witch was heavier or lighter than the stack, she was presumed to be a witch. If she balanced the Bibles perfectly, she wasn’t. Totally sensical. 9. Weighing Them Against a Stack of Bibles--If the suspected witch was heavier or lighter than the stack, she was presumed to be a witch. If she balanced the Bibles perfectly, she wasn’t. Totally sensical. 10. Owning a Lot of Pets--Animals and witches were, apparently, two peas in a pod. If a fly landed in the accused cell while she awaited trial, it would often be assumed that it was because of her witchcraft. 10. Owning a Lot of Pets--Animals and witches were, apparently, two peas in a pod. If a fly landed in the accused cell while she awaited trial, it would often be assumed that it was because of her witchcraft.

Dorcas Good- a juvenile case March 23, 1692: Marshal Deputy Samuel Bradbrook arrests 4-year-old Dorcas Good because of physical impairments. The arrest questioned the imprisonment of the mentally and physically disabled. Many of those accused of witchery awaited their fates inside small prison cells, approximately 6 by 4 feet. htershock/salem.html

Right to Petition July 23, Several convicted “witches” write petitions to the magistrates for release. July 23, Several convicted “witches” write petitions to the magistrates for release. John Proctor writes of about the atrocities that led to their confessions. John Proctor writes of about the atrocities that led to their confessions. An excerpt reads, An excerpt reads, “my son, William Proctor, when he was examined, because he would not confess that he was guilty, when he was innocent, they tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed out of his nose, and would have kept him so 24 hours.” “my son, William Proctor, when he was examined, because he would not confess that he was guilty, when he was innocent, they tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed out of his nose, and would have kept him so 24 hours.”

Giles Corey’s death Giles Corey refused to give testimony at the 1692 Witch Trials. He would neither confess nor deny the charges brought upon him. So, in order to obtain a statement, he was taken outside, a board placed across his body, and heavy stones piled on top. It is said that his only words before he was crushed to death were: "More weight!"

The Consequences “The Hanging of Bridget Bishop” “The Arresting of a Witch”

“Accused of Witchcraft”

“The Salem Martyr” “Execution of Mrs. Ann Hibbins”

“Witchcraft at Salem Village” Notice the young girl on the floor. The accusations in Salem started with a group of very young girls (9-17) who showed strange behavior. Some people say they may have eaten poisoned food or plants or had a new disease doctors did not know about.

to "help very much flatten that fury which we now so much turn upon one another". The Massachusetts colony begins to reconsider the accusations The Massachusetts colony begins to reconsider the accusations This leads to a reversal of some of the victims This leads to a reversal of some of the victims