Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byHenry Griffin Modified over 9 years ago
2
What is the definition of a witch? a person, now especially a woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic, especially black magic or the black art; sorceress.
3
Witches were persecuted in France, Italy, Germany and England Over 300 years Between 14 th and 16 th century, 40,000-50,000 people were executed for “witchcraft”
4
Persecutions and killings of witches came from the Bible. Exodus 11:18 “Thall shall not suffer a witch to live.”
5
Early Christians were permissive of PAGANS – Pagan - one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks. Synonyms: polytheist. 1231 – Pagans were considered heretics. Heretics - a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church. Heretics were exposed and punished
6
1484 – Pope Innocent VIII declared witchcraft to be heresy Punishment was death!
7
Book that told “how to” find a witch Satan would leave a mark “devil’s mark” or “witch’s teat” – “Teat” is said to feed the animal spirits that served her “Swimming Witch” – Woman tied to a lever and dunked in water. If she was a witch, she would float. If she was innocent, she would sink. Woman always found guilty. Torture
8
Became head of the church and head of the country Witchcraft became a sin against church & state Resulted in TREASON, which was a capital offense
9
Pilgrims leave England to settle Massachusetts Bay Colony “new perfect society” based on Bible “City on a hill” Settlers still British citizens Believed in witches Called Puritans CREEPY!
10
Charlestown – 1648 1 st witch hunt and trial Margaret Jones – midwife and healer Said to have “malignant” touch Could foretell future Had a “witch’s teat” Hanged in 1648
11
Boston – 1688 4 children accuse Goodwife Glover Children cured through prayer and fasting Glover executed Cotton Mather – ▪ headed investigation ▪ Boston minister
12
Most famous witch hunt Puritan settlement Believed in predestination Believed in Misogyny – belief that women are to be silent, submissive, docile helpers and mothers By nature, women were considered more likely than men to enlist in the devil’s service Women considered lustful and wanted certain kinds of knowledge ▪ (Garden of Eden)
13
Began with 11 year old Abigail Williams and 9 year old Elizabeth Parris Girls acted strangely Abigail Williams was Elizabeth’s cousin. Elizabeth Parris was the daughter of the town minister. Not allowed to have toys or play- this was seen as idleness and sinful Encouraged to concentrate on chores and studying bible verses
15
At night Abigail and Elizabeth would spend their nights by the fire with Reverend Parris’s slave Tituba (from Barbados). Tituba entertained the girls with magic, fortune telling and story telling from her homeland. This was forbidden by Puritan law.
16
Girls began speaking in tongues and having wild convulsions. The village doctor was called in, he was sure the girls were victims of witch craft. One Sunday in January, as the Reverend began his sermon, the girls in town fell into a fit.
17
The town concerned for the girls asked who had cast a spell on them. Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne were named. Tituba, a slave. Sarah Good, a homeless woman. Sarah Osborne a woman who had married her servant.
18
When placed on trial both Sarah’s maintained their innocence, Tituba however claimed there were other witches in Salem. This admission started the wave of hysteria that engulfed Salem. Behind this paranoia were Elizabeth and Abigail. The hysteria was being controlled by two young girls.
19
Girls accused: Men Upper Class Minister’s wives
20
Singing Reading Not conforming to Puritan law Not getting along with your neighbor Spending time alone Writing
21
The afflicted person makes a complaint to the Magistrate about a suspected witch. The complaint is sometimes made through a third person. The Magistrate issues a warrant for the arrest of the accused person. The accused person is taken into custody and examined by two or more Magistrates. If, after listening to testimony, the Magistrate believes that the accused person is probably guilty, the accused is sent to jail for possible reexamination and to await trial
23
The case is presented to the Grand Jury. Depositions relating to the guilt or innocence of the accused are entered into evidence. If the accused is indicted by the Grand Jury, he or she is tried before the Court of Oyer and Terminer. A jury, instructed by the Court, decides the defendant's guilt.
24
The convicted defendant receives his or her sentence from the Court. In each case at Salem, the convicted defendant was sentenced to be hanged on a specified date The Sheriff and his deputies carry out the sentence of death on the specified date.
26
200 accussed 7 judges, 12 jurors at hearings Confessions of witchcraft weren’t hanged Only people who denied it were hanged 55 of 200 confessed to escape hanging
27
Hanged for witchcraft Cursed Judge Nicholas Noise: “If you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink.” 25 years later, Noise died by choking on his own blood. Dorcus Goode – Sarah’s daughter – 4 years old – youngest accused
28
Retired reverend Hanged for witchcraft Before being hanged, recited “The Lord’s Prayer” perfectly – supposed to be impossible for a witch to do this
29
Total Accused: 200 Total deaths: 24 people 19 hanged 4 died in prison 1 pressed to death
30
Court was dissolved on October 29 49 of 52 left to sentence were acquitted Community realized its wrong-doings. Girls never publicly apologized Ann Putman – 1706 – blamed devil for causing her to do it
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.