The Salem
Witch
Trials
or as they say in France:
Le procès des
sorcières de Salem
Created by Winton Yee of 1D2
Before we get started, let me
tell you a little back story.
Before we get started, let me
tell you a little back story.
The Puritans had just come
from England to North America,
and had faced many hardships
along the way. Their faith had
been put to the test, and they
needed to be cautious to not
fall into the Devil’s hands.
There was much arguing going on
in the town of Salem,
Massachusetts, and many
suspected it was the work of the
Devil.
In the January of 1692,
something strange happened
that no one could explain.
Two young girls, Betty and Abigail
Williams, who were the daughter and
niece of the village minister, began to act
unusually, having seizures, screaming
nonsense, and going into trance-like
states.
Two young girls, Betty and Abigail
Williams, who were the daughter and
niece of the village minister, began to act
unusually, having seizures, screaming
nonsense, and going into trance-like
states.
Doctors sent to
examine the
children could
find nothing
wrong with
them physically,
so they
suggested
another
explanation…
Doctors sent to
examine the
children could
find nothing
wrong with
them physically,
so they
suggested
another
explanation…
A genie?
Doctors sent to
examine the
children could
find nothing
wrong with
them physically,
so they
suggested
another
explanation…
A genie? No…
witchcraft
People in Salem accepted
this diagnosis, and said...
WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A WITCH
IN SALEM
Another girl, Ann Putnam, began
experiencing the same
“symptoms” as the other girls.
Another girl, Ann Putnam, began
experiencing the same
“symptoms” as the other girls.
Under pressure, the three
“victims” accused three
women of witchcraft
I WAS BEWITCHED
BY SOME SLAVE FROM THE CARIBBEAN
Indeed, one of the three
“witches” was a slave from the
Caribbean, Tituba. The other
two suspects were Sarah Good
and Sarah Osborne (both were
in poverty).
Indeed, one of the three
“witches” was a slave from the
Caribbean, Tituba. The other
two suspects were Sarah Good
and Sarah Osborne (both were
in poverty).
Both Sarah’s denied
practicing witchcraft,
but Tituba confessed to
doing the Devil’s work.
Both Sarah’s denied
practicing witchcraft,
but Tituba confessed to
doing the Devil’s work.
She told the villagers
that she had visions of
colorful animals and
even the Devil himself.
Both Sarah’s denied
practicing witchcraft,
but Tituba confessed to
doing the Devil’s work.
She told the villagers
that she had visions of
colorful animals and
even the Devil himself.
And then, she spoke of
a network of witches
within Salem…
Both Sarah’s denied
practicing witchcraft,
but Tituba confessed to
doing the Devil’s work.
She told the villagers
that she had visions of
colorful animals and
even the Devil himself.
And then, she spoke of
a network of witches
within Salem…
VAMPIRE
WITCHES,
THAT IS!
Okay, so maybe there weren’t any
vampire witches
AW
Aw, man!!
But regular “witches” were enough
to scare the heebie-jeebies out of
the community
But regular “witches” were enough
to scare the heebie-jeebies out of
the community
The three women accused of
witchcraft were all put in jail, and
over the next few months more
people were suspected of
sinister evil.
Even Martha Corey,
a devout church
member and
outstanding citizen,
was blamed.
Even Martha Corey,
a devout church
member and
outstanding citizen,
was blamed.
If such a high
member of society
could be a witch,
then anyone could
be one.
Even Martha Corey,
a devout church
member and
outstanding citizen,
was blamed.
If such a high
member of society
could be a witch,
then anyone could
be one.
Paranoia spread
even further.
Which was the work of a
genie, right?
Even Martha Corey,
a devout church
member and
outstanding citizen,
was blamed.
If such a high
member of society
could be a witch,
then anyone could
be one.
Paranoia spread
even further.
Which was the work of a
genie, right?
*Sigh* No. There are NO
SUCH THINGS AS
GENIES.
Even Martha Corey,
a devout church
member and
outstanding citizen,
was blamed.
If such a high
member of society
could be a witch,
then anyone could
be one.
Paranoia spread
even further.
Which was the work of a
genie, right?
*Sigh* No. There are NO
SUCH THINGS AS
GENIES.
Tell that to the genie.
Even Martha Corey,
a devout church
member and
outstanding citizen,
was blamed.
If such a high
member of society
could be a witch,
then anyone could
be one.
Paranoia spread
even further.
The governor, William Phillips,
created a special court
specifically for the cases of the
witches.
The governor, William Phillips,
created a special court
specifically for the cases of the
witches.
Soon, the trials claimed their
first life.
The governor, William Phillips,
created a special court
specifically for the cases of the
witches.
Soon, the trials claimed their
first life.
On June 10, 1692, Bridget
Bishop was hanged on
Gallows Hill for practicing
witchcraft
A minister, Cotton Mather,
denounced the use of dreams
and visions as evidence (called
spectral evidence) against
“witches” in court. He
proclaimed, “It would be better
if ten suspected witches
escape than one innocent
person should be condemned.”
A minister, Cotton Mather,
denounced the use of dreams
and visions as evidence (called
spectral evidence) against
“witches” in court. He
proclaimed, “It would be better
if ten suspected witches
escape than one innocent
person should be condemned.”
However, he was ignored,
and nineteen more people
were killed for witchcraft, one
crushed by stones.
The hysteria finally ended when Governor
Phillips, in response to his wife being
questioned for witchcraft, did away with the
court for witches, prevented further arrests
for being a witch, and released all the
“witches” by 1693.
The hysteria finally ended when Governor
Phillips, in response to his wife being
questioned for witchcraft, did away with the
court for witches, prevented further arrests
for being a witch, and released all the
“witches” by 1693.
However, twenty-five people were dead
because of the trials, and 200 people had
been suspected of witchcraft.
The hysteria finally ended when Governor
Phillips, in response to his wife being
questioned for witchcraft, did away with the
court for witches, prevented further arrests
for being a witch, and released all the
“witches” by 1693.
However, twenty-five people were dead
because of the trials, and 200 people had
been suspected of witchcraft.
It was until 1957 before Massachusetts
apologized for the trials.
epilogue
Scientists now think that the three children who
were “affected” by witchcraft might have been
afflicted by fungus egrot, which can be found in
rye and other grains. The fungus can lead to
muscle spasms, vomiting, and hallucinations.
Scientists now think that the three children who
were “affected” by witchcraft might have been
afflicted by fungus egrot, which can be found in
rye and other grains. The fungus can lead to
muscle spasms, vomiting, and hallucinations.
Tituba might have been drawing on the voodoo
traditions of the Caribbean when she admitted to
witchcraft.
Scientists now think that the three children who
were “affected” by witchcraft might have been
afflicted by fungus egrot, which can be found in
rye and other grains. The fungus can lead to
muscle spasms, vomiting, and hallucinations.
Tituba might have been drawing on the voodoo
traditions of the Caribbean when she admitted to
witchcraft.
In 1711, the colony of Massachusetts restored the
name of the accused “witches” (which didn’t really
help, because they were…dead) and gave their
kin 600 pounds as compensation
And there’s also a
lesson to be learned
from all this…
Follow your
dreams
Follow your
dreams
But, seriously, mass
hysteria isn’t cool,
and the lesson is to
think rationally and
not freak out when
things go wrong.
fin
Well, almost Fin.
Sources
The Salem Witch Trials: by Michael Burgan
The Salem Witch Trials: by Stuart A. Kallen
Read Magazine: Witch Hunt, Article: Which Witch is Which?
http://atheistetiquette.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/sunday-sermon-the-ballad-of-gilescorey/?iact=hc&vpx=145&vpy=348&dur=117&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=178&ty=197&ei
=6K8bTafGNYGclgeQt83LCw&oei=6K8bTafGNYGclgeQt83LCw&esq=1&page=1&tbnh=
151&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0
http://www.hondahookup.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=7303&iact=hc&vpx=114&vpy=2
60&dur=1850&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=164&ty=124&ei=PLUbTYuDK4a8lQfEzpjeAg&
oei=PLUbTYuDK4a8lQfEzpjeAg&esq=1&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=154&start=0&ndsp=
18&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0
http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/educat http://www.freewebs.com/kandjreallate/swi
ion/index.shtml
per.jpg
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/historyhttp://debeecampos.blogspot.com/2010/03/
archaeology/brief-salem.html
there-must-be-blog-prompt-list.html
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/salem-witch-trials/
http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/salem.htm
erstories.net