Puritanism In The Salem Witch Trials
Introduction
The aim of this research is to investigate the extent to which Puritanism is responsible for the accusations of witchcraft brought upon approximately 120 people during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and the reason why these accusations persisted for eight months.
The inhabitants of Salem were Puritans who believed strongly in Satan and his power. It was believed that Satan could give a person the power to hurt others in return for their loyalty, which was to be signed in their blood in Satan’s black book. Anyone who consorted with Satan was a witch; a sin that was punishable by death. Witchcraft persecutions became popular in Europe in the 15th century and spread to North America with the British Colonisation. Witches had the ability
…show more content…
In this article, Sutter names probable causes leading up to the accusation of witchcraft in Salem Village in 1692, and details the events and aftermath of the Trials and executions. In terms of causes, Sutter focuses primarily on the politics of Salem Village in and before 1692, and the divide between the families who wished to separate from Salem Town (the Eastern side) and those who did not (the Western side). Sutter explains the politics and warring religious ideals of opposing factions, paying special attention to the Putnams and their establishment of a new congregation in Eastern Salem Village under Reverend Samuel Parris. Sutter mentions the strain created by Rev. Parris’ generous contract on “already weakened relations between the two factions” and the anger it generated in the ‘Salem Town supporters’. (Sutter, 2003). The article also touches on another cause: the lack of entertainment for, and pressure put on, Puritan children. Sutter goes on to thoroughly explain the events leading up to the accusations, and details the Trials and hangings, focusing on the first few cases and the last. He also briefly mentions the events leading up to the end of support for the Trials and the releasing of all accused prisoners. The article ends with an in-depth explanation of the aftermath of the Trials on the land, the parish, the families, the afflicted girls and futures of Salem Village and of religious witch hunts in
Essay On The Salem Witch Trials Dbq
480 Words | 2 PagesIn Salem, Massachusetts, Puritans were strong believers in the Bible. The Bible states, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” The Puritans beliefs led to them accusing 20 innocent people of being a witch, this resulted in their deaths in 1692. Even though the Puritans couldn’t see it at the time, their accusations were really based off jealousy, lies, and Salem being divided into two parts. One cause of the Salem witch trial hysteria was jealousy.
Salem Witch Trials Justified Analysis
1716 Words | 7 PagesNearly anyone from the New England has heard of the famous Salem Witch Trials. A year of persecution, leading to the accusation of nearly 200 citizens of all ages. No one was safe; men, women, children, even pets stood trial and 20 were hung for the supposed crime of witchcraft (Blumberg). 1692 was a year of witch hunting. Most today blame the trials on hysteria, or perhaps a bad case of paranoia.
Chapter Summary: The Salem Witch Trials
1223 Words | 5 PagesREVIEW OF LITRATURE A.) SUMMARY SOURCE A Although the whole book had information on the Salem witch trials. The introduction, chapter 1 and 2 and the conclusion had information regarding the research needed • Introduction: states what the Salem witch trials where and who they accused.
Analysis Of A Modest Inquiry Into The Nature Of Witchcraft By John Hale
128 Words | 1 PagesIn his book, “A Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft (1702),” clergyman John Hale comes forth to confront the recent events going on at the time. Initially, Hale alludes to the questionable actions and activities of the townspeople being accused of witchcrafts, and being imprisoned as punishment. In addition, he discloses how everyone suspicious will be accused, not even young children are safe from the hands of this fate. Hale’s purpose of publishing this book was to describe the incident of the Witch Trials, and to reveal his experience of the trials, since his own wife was accused. By employing a didactic tone, Hale relays the actions of the past that targeted the Puritans and those wrongly accused of witchcrafts, so this occurrence
Revenge And Science In Arthur Miller's The Crucible
944 Words | 4 Pages“I’ll tell you what is said here, sir. Andover has thrown the court, they say, and will have no part of witchcraft. There be a faction here feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be a riot” (79). Everyone in Salem is getting irked and bewildered with the witch trials. There is uncertainty within the court and the townspeople that riots will occur within Salem.
The Salem Witch Trials In 1692
741 Words | 3 PagesWhatever the bible said the puritans believed, and one subject about the devil. The devil was real and he was clever, one of his trick was to enter a normal person’s body and turn that person into a witch. The Salem witch trials in 1692 were caused by? The Salem witch trials in 1692 were caused by three things marital status, lying girls, and economic differences. Marital status was one because the women who were accused were more married then single.
Crucible Speech For The Salem Witch Trials
790 Words | 4 PagesToday, Your Honour we are here to exonerate the wrongfully convicted men and women of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials of Massachusetts. Men and women were accused of witchcraft, 19 well respectable people were hung. As we know religion has no place in court, therefore eliminating the conclusion of witchcraft. Leaving us to look for other reasons and motives that appeal to human emotion such a s fear, greed and jealousy. Emotions like this led to the deaths in Salem.
The Salem Witchcraft Trials In New England
212 Words | 1 PagesSalem witchcraft trials started in New England and caused a lot of deaths and hysteria for the people of Salem, Massachusetts. Innocent women and men were hung just for being accused by their fellow friends and neighbors. Witchcraft in the 17th century was a big taboo that people feared. It started when a couple of girls from Salem encountered an African woman slave who knew about sorcery and fortune. After a few days, people noticed that they seemed different.
Salem Witch Trials Literature Review
841 Words | 4 PagesReview of Literature The religiously motivated Salem witch trials of 1692 left a permanent stain on Massachusetts’ history, but one overlooked factor could have sparked the tragic ordeal. The trials are best summarized as an inexplicable and unforeseen frenzy of accusations, aimed at the social pariahs of the community, that led to multiple deaths in a previously tranquil place. An intense type of food poisoning known as convulsive ergotism provides a seemingly simple, yet understandably deceptive to the ignorant, explanation. Due to optimum conditions for the disease, the correlation between the bewitched and the expected symptoms, and the religious fanaticism of the time, one can conclude ergotism was an influence on the Salem witch trials.
Salem Witch Trials Rhetorical Analysis
1066 Words | 5 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials; Madness or Logic In Stacey Schiff’s, List of 5 Possible Causes of the Salem Witch Trials and Shah Faiza’s, THE WITCHES OF SALEM; Diabolical doings in a Puritan village, discuss in their articles what has been debated by so many historians for years, the causes of the Salem Witch trials. Schiff and the Faiza, purpose is to argue the possible religious, scientific, communal, and sociological reasons on why the trials occurred. All while making word by word in the writer’s testimony as if they were there through emotion and just stating simply the facts and theories. They adopt the hectic tone in order to convey to the readers the significance, tragedy, logic, loss, and possible madness behind these life changing events,
Examples Of Reputation In The Crucible
964 Words | 4 PagesDuring the hysteria of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, many people were accused of practicing witchcraft. Therefore, their reputation, was ruined. Other people committed many sins in order to keep their reputation clean in town. For instance, some characters had to lie, fight, and accuse other people of witchcraft which could get the individual out of trouble and keep their hands clean. when a person got accused of being a witch, the person’s reputation would get ruined and the person would go to jail or be hanged.
Tituba's Manipulation In The Crucible
789 Words | 4 PagesTituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. Based on the background knowledge of the time, slaves were not considered part of the class system, so she was not valued as a community member. Tituba is conscious that she is in danger, “she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back” (Miller, pg. 6). Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, “You beg me to conjure! She beg me make charm” (Miller, pg. 44) but realizes that her word against Abigail will not stand.
Salem Witch Trials Dbq Essay
745 Words | 3 PagesThe Salem witch trial hysteria of 1692 may have been instigated by religious, social, geographic and even biological factors. During these trials, 134 people were condemned as witches and 19 were hanged. These statistics also include 5 more deaths that occurred prior to their execution date. It is interesting to look into the causes of this stain on American History, when as shown in document B, eight citizens were hanged in only one day.
Salem Witch Trials Research Papers
721 Words | 3 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials The belief of witchcraft can be traced back centuries to as early as the 1300’s. The Salem Witch Trials occurred during 1690’s in which many members of Puritan communities were accused and convicted of witchcraft. These “witch trials” were most famously noted in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Many believe this town to be the starting point for the mass hysteria which spread to many other areas of New England.
The Causes And Effects Of The Salem Witch Trials
1008 Words | 5 PagesNot many people know much about what actually happened in the Salem Witch Trials. Maybe someone would think that it was just about witchcraft and crazy people being hanged, but it is a lot more than that. The Salem Witch Trials only occurred between 1692 and 1693, but a lot of damage had been done. The idea of the Salem Witch Trials came from Europe during the “witchcraft craze” from the 1300s-1600s. In Europe, many of the accused witches were executed by hanging.
More about Puritanism In The Salem Witch Trials
Essay On The Salem Witch Trials Dbq
480 Words | 2 PagesSalem Witch Trials Justified Analysis
1716 Words | 7 PagesChapter Summary: The Salem Witch Trials
1223 Words | 5 PagesAnalysis Of A Modest Inquiry Into The Nature Of Witchcraft By John Hale
128 Words | 1 PagesRevenge And Science In Arthur Miller's The Crucible
944 Words | 4 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials In 1692
741 Words | 3 PagesCrucible Speech For The Salem Witch Trials
790 Words | 4 PagesThe Salem Witchcraft Trials In New England
212 Words | 1 PagesSalem Witch Trials Literature Review
841 Words | 4 PagesSalem Witch Trials Rhetorical Analysis
1066 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Reputation In The Crucible
964 Words | 4 PagesTituba's Manipulation In The Crucible
789 Words | 4 PagesSalem Witch Trials Dbq Essay
745 Words | 3 PagesSalem Witch Trials Research Papers
721 Words | 3 PagesThe Causes And Effects Of The Salem Witch Trials
1008 Words | 5 Pages