Salem Witch HuntsSalem Witch Hunts

CausesCauses No governor or charter No governor or charter

to enforce laws in 1692to enforce laws in 1692 Citizens upset by attacks Citizens upset by attacks

from natives and Frenchfrom natives and French ““City on a Hill” mentalityCity on a Hill” mentality Codes of conformity – Codes of conformity –

first witches were first witches were outcastsoutcasts

TitubaTituba (slave), (slave), Sarah Sarah GoodGood (homeless beggar), (homeless beggar), Sarah OsbourneSarah Osbourne (old, (old, married servant)married servant)

Restricted activities of Restricted activities of young girls caused them young girls caused them to seek attention to seek attention through hysterical through hysterical outbreaksoutbreaks

ReligionReligion Strict code of moralityStrict code of morality Work ethic – salvation Work ethic – salvation

depends on good depends on good worksworks

Power of devilPower of devil All sins punished by All sins punished by

God – failed crop must God – failed crop must be evidence of a be evidence of a hidden sinhidden sin

Witches punished by Witches punished by death as most death as most extreme heresyextreme heresy

Economic and Social Economic and Social DivisionDivision

Salem VillageSalem Village – poor – poor farmers, fear of farmers, fear of worldly Salem Townworldly Salem Town

Rev. Samuel ParrisRev. Samuel Parris – – new minister in new minister in village denounces village denounces town prosperitytown prosperity

Salem TownSalem Town – – prosperous port prosperous port town with town with merchants and merchants and outside contactoutside contact

Colonial PunishmentsColonial Punishments PilloryPillory for theft or counterfeit for theft or counterfeit DuckingDucking stool for loose women, stool for loose women,

cheaters, quarrellingcheaters, quarrelling Repentance stoolRepentance stool in view of in view of

church memberschurch members Scarlet letterScarlet letter – B = blasphemy, – B = blasphemy,

A = adultery, D = drunkennessA = adultery, D = drunkenness BrandingBranding on cheek – SL = on cheek – SL =

seditious libel, M = seditious libel, M = manslaughter, T = thief, R = manslaughter, T = thief, R = rogue, F = forgery, I = sold to rogue, F = forgery, I = sold to nativesnatives

WhippingWhipping (10-40 lashes) for (10-40 lashes) for hunting on Sunday, lying, hunting on Sunday, lying, drinking, pick pocketsdrinking, pick pockets

BranksBranks = cage for head with = cage for head with tongue in mouth for gossipstongue in mouth for gossips

BilboesBilboes = feet in shackles for = feet in shackles for theft or cursingtheft or cursing

European WitchcraftEuropean Witchcraft From 1400-1600 From 1400-1600

approximatelyapproximately Confessed to flying on poles, Confessed to flying on poles,

attending meetings led by attending meetings led by the devil, casting spells on the devil, casting spells on neighbors, causing stormsneighbors, causing storms

1484 Pope Innocent VIII 1484 Pope Innocent VIII published report on published report on witchcraft in Germany witchcraft in Germany Malleus MalleficarumMalleus Malleficarum

Suggests looking for mole as Suggests looking for mole as devil’s mark and bringing in devil’s mark and bringing in accused backwards so they accused backwards so they can’t cast spellscan’t cast spells

1515 in Gen. Sw. burned 1515 in Gen. Sw. burned 500 witches at the stake500 witches at the stake

1500-1660 Europe executed 1500-1660 Europe executed 50000 – 80000 witches50000 – 80000 witches

1682 England executed its 1682 England executed its last witch last witch

Hysteria in Salem - 1692Hysteria in Salem - 1692 Jan 1692 Parris’ 9 year old Jan 1692 Parris’ 9 year old

daughter & 11 year old daughter & 11 year old niece had hysterical fits, niece had hysterical fits, trances and paralysistrances and paralysis

Accused others of Accused others of bewitching thembewitching them

May 1692 established court May 1692 established court of of Oyer and TerminerOyer and Terminer

Bridget BishopBridget Bishop was 1 was 1stst person hangedperson hanged

20 executed for witchcraft in 20 executed for witchcraft in Salem (most on Gallows Hill)Salem (most on Gallows Hill)

Oct 1692 Oct 1692 Governor PhippsGovernor Phipps dissolved the court & dissolved the court & disallowed disallowed spectral evidencespectral evidence as his own wife was being as his own wife was being chargedcharged

1702 trials declared 1702 trials declared unlawfulunlawful