Salem Witch Trials

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• Salem Witch Trials
• A Web-Quest

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Introduction

• Double, double toil and trouble,
• Fire burn and caldron bubble.
• Fillet of a fenny snake,
• In the caldron boil and bake.
• Eye of newt and toe of frog,
• Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
• Adder's fork and blindworm's sting,
• Lizard's leg and howler's wing...
• So begins a witches' chant by William Shakespeare
  in his play Macbeth. We tend to think of a witch
  as an old hag with a wart and a black hat,
  stirring a bubbling caldron. Believe it or not,
  in the late 1600's in Salem Massachusetts,
  everyday people men, women AND children, stood
  accused of the crime of witchcraft. Many of
  these people would be executed for their supposed
  crimes. You are about to investigate this dark
  event.

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Task

• You will be working individually and in groups to
  investigate our topic. Individually, you will
  use internet resources to find the Who, What,
  When, and Where of this event. In your groups
  you will then each choose a different character
  from history either an accuser, person accused,
  magistrate, or Puritan minister to better
  understand the How and Why of this event. You
  will prepare a first person narrative to present
  at trial.
• Following our trial you will be prepared to
  discuss this unfortunate demonstration of mass
  hysteria in the past, and identify more recent
  events that are similar in nature and cause.

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The Event
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The Facts
Today, in the 21st century, we have difficulty
accepting claims of witchcraft. But to
Puritans living in 17th century Massachusetts
such claims were taken VERY seriously. Click on
the link below to get some background on life in
Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Use this link to
answer the questions on your Pre-Trial Brief.
Life in Salem
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The People Involved
Each member of your group will select a
different person in your category. Click on
their name to be directed to a site with their
biography. You will use this to prepare your
narrative for presentation at trial.
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Trial Transcripts

• To better understand the thinking of the time it
  is necessary to examine the actual words used
  during the proceedings. Use the links below to
  get a clearer picture of Puritan thinking towards
  witchcraft. Standard Optional (Honors
  Requirement)
• Witness Testimony
• Cotton Mather The Devil in New England
• John Hathorne Judge, Jury or Both?
  

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Modern Day Witch-Hunts