1. The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Tarboro High School

2. The Puritans
In the 1600s, Puritans settled on the East cost of the United States. They brought with them the hope of religious freedom, but instead became embroiled in hysteria over the existence of witches.
They had been persecuted in their native England, but they created a theocracy and eventually persecuted others.
The Simpsons – Tree House of Horror

3. The Puritans Most of those accused of being witches were women.
Many were healers, and used plants to heal people.
Many were without family, and this made them easy targets.
They were people who did not fit in with the mainstream for one reason or another.

4. The Crucible (1953)
In 1692, 19 women, 1 man, and 2 dogs were convicted and executed for witchcraft in a small village in Massachusetts.
Those targeted:
Loners, eccentrics, the poor, those with long- standing grudges, single women standing to inherit land

5. Did you know that witches …
… could corrupt innocent people
… bore the mark of the devil on their bodies
… were made of wood
.. could be reclaimed through confession and accusation of others

6. How did it start?
In 1692, several girls in the village of Salem, Massachusetts became intrigued when a West Indian servant told them stories of magic and voodoo from her native land.
Bored and restricted by the oppressive Puritan life, the girls slipped into the woods one night and “conjured” love charms and hexes.

7. How did it start?
One girl, Better Parris, slipped into unconscious when her father caught them. She wouldn’t wake up, and this stared the discussion of witchcraft.
To avoid punishment, the girls created the story of the “witches” who made them dance and conjure the spells.

8. Why did it happen?
It began as a way for the oppressed girls to avoid being punished.
It then became an ideal way to get revenge on anyone whom you disliked.
People started accusing their neighbors of being witches so they could steal their land.
People accused others of being witches if they wanted to steal their husbands or wives or possessions.