The Salem Witchcraft Trials

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Not like Halloween Witches!!!
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The Salem Witchcraft Trials

• Witch-hunts were abundant at this time in
  history. Thousands were burned at the stake in
  Europe.
• Small pox epidemic in the colonies
• Indian raids on small farms
• England broke the Puritan character in
  Massachusetts and sent a hostile governor to the
  colony.
• People didnt govern themselves or hold clear
  title to their land.

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The Salem Witchcraft Trials cont.

• Controversial election of Reverend Parris caused
  a splitSalem Farm and Salem Village. Each had
  its own church.
• Two influential families, the Putnams and the
  Nurses, fought constantly over land.
• Parris servant, Tituba, taught Parris
  9-year-old daughter Betty and his 11-year-old
  niece Abigail, then Ann Putnam Jr.
• The fits were attributed to witchcraft since the
  doctor could find no other explanation.
• Pressured by elders to state the cause of her
  fits, Betty named Tituba as a witch. Later the
  girls named Sarah Good, an old beggar woman, and
  Sarah Osborne, an irregular attendant at church.
• As time went on, the girls named more witches.
  Before the trials were over, 19 people were
  hanged, Giles Corey was pressed to death for
  refusing to answer an indictment, and several
  more died in prison.

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The Salem Witchcraft Trials cont.

• At the time court was dismissed, 150 witches had
  been legally arrested and had not been brought to
  trial.
• Reasons for dismissal
• The court stopped accepting spectral evidence and
  confessions of the accused as proof.
• Respectable people had been accused by this time,
  so no one was safe.
• Rumors that rich people bribed the court to avoid
  arrest were circulating.

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Puritanism

• Puritans left Europe to escape religious
  persecution.
• PredestinationDivine salvation was predetermined
  by God.
• Puritans lived righteous lives to be prepared for
  being elected if the day came.
• If a person was among the elect, he could do no
  wrong.
• Once a person is elected, he is saved forever.

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Puritanism

• If God could elect certain people to be saved,
  then the Devil could select people to be
  bewitched.
• TheocracyA government that was totally
  controlled by the church.
• You had to be a member of the church to vote and
  hold office.
• If you didnt know your catechism, you became a
  suspect.

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Puritanism

• Believed that every man was constantly being
  tested by the Devil.
• Once a man sinned he had to make an open
  confession in order to be saved.
• Some believed in confessing to be a witch would
  enable you to be saved, but another faction
  believed that confessing to be a witch would
  bring eternal damnation.
• ProblemIf a person was a witch, he/she would
  confess in order to be able to go on doing Gods
  work.

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Puritanism

• Believed anything pleasant was inspired by the
  Devil.
• Pretty clothes, childrens games, theater,
  dancing, etc.

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Forces undermining Puritanism

1. A persons natural desire to do good-this works
   against predestination.
2. Dislike of a closed life
3. Resentment of the power of a few over many.
4. Change in economic conditions-growth of
   fisheries, farms, etc.
5. The presence of the frontierconcept of
   self-reliance, individualism, optimism.
6. Theocracy suffered from lack of flexibility.
7. Growth of rationality-use of the mind to know
   Godless dependent on Bible.
8. New immigrants entering the colonies.

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Visible signs of Puritan Decay

1. Visible decay of godliness
2. Manifestations of pride-especially among the
   newly rich
3. Presence of Quakers and Anabaptists.
4. Violations of the Sabbath and swearing and
   sleeping during sermons.
5. Decay in family government
6. People full of contentionrise in law suits and
   lawyers
7. Sins of sex and alcohol on the increase
8. Decay in business moralitylying, laborers
   underpaid, etc.
9. No disposition to reform
10. Lacking in social behavior

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Seven Reasons for the Salem Witch-Hunt

1. Revenge
2. Economic gain
3. Relief of guilt (finding a scapegoat).
4. Purify society
5. Explain what they cant understand
6. Gain attention, power, and/or influence
7. Mass Hysteria (illogical thinking or a loss of
   common sense).

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Test for Witches

1. Pricking for the Devils Mark
2. The Water-ordeal
3. Repetition of the Lords Prayer
4. Laying-on-of Hands
5. Testing for knowledge of catechism.