The Salem Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts 1692 What

The Salem Witch Trials Salem, Massachusetts 1692

What happened? Village caught up in hysteria and fear of Satan and demonic forces. l Start arresting individuals, some being hanged, based solely on the testimony of very young girls. Girls said they were “tormented” by the spirits of these adults l Led to the imprisonment of many people without trial. Also, several were executed. l

Causes l Strong belief that Satan active in world. He recruits wizards/witches to work for him l Prior witchcraft cases in New England (Europe) l Belief that person afflicted exhibits certain symptoms—Cotton Mather’s Memorable Providences (on classzone if interested) l Fear of the Unknown; Fear of Change

Causes A time of trouble--smallpox, strife in church, frontier wars with Indians, etc. Satan busy. l Confession made it easier on people. If a person confessed, they could be brought back to God. l

History of Witchcraft Execution Bible mandate l 1208—Pope Innocent III attacks religious group; says they are in cahoots with Satan l 1273—St. Thomas Acquinas says that demons can lead people into temptation l l Mid 1400’s—Witchcraft trials erupt in Europe. Burning witches, hanging, torture led to confessions to save lives. People said they met with Satan and flew around on poles, animals, had sex with animals, etc. Witchcraft became a crime against the state.

History l Mid to Early 1500’s—Witch hysteria everywhere. Mass executions. Geneva, Switzerland burned 500 accused witches at the stake in 1515. l Nine years later in Como, Italy, witchcraft charges led to as many as 1000 executions. l From 1500 to 1660, Europe saw between 50, 000 and 80, 000 suspected witches executed. About 80% of those killed were women. Execution rates varied l 26, 000 in Germany l 10, 000 in France l 1, 000 in England, and only four in Ireland. l

History l 1591—King James authorizes torture of witches l 1606—Shakespeare’s Macbeth performed l 1640’s—Starts to simmer down l 1682—England executes last witch l She was a senile, impoverished woman wanting to end her own life in a dramatic way.

Events in Salem Rev. Samuel Parris moves to Salem to become minister l February—his young daughter goes ill. Having fits, yelling out, acting weird l Can’t explain why. Some of her friends began to exhibit similar symptoms. l Doctor suggests supernatural reasons l September 1662, 19 men and women carted off to Gallows Hill for hanging l

Events in Salem People believed that Satan targeted children often l More girls became afflicted l One girl confesses to witchcraft—points finger at others l Girls started pointing fingers at people they didn’t like, for financial gain of parents, etc

Events in Salem l Early Autumn of 1692—hysteria dying down. l More and more refused to confess l Charges became more and more ridiculous l People tired of hanging and arresting

Things to Think About l Mob Mentality l Peer Pressure l Coercion and Testimony l Power of Fear