The Salem Witch Trials, which took place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, are a notorious chapter in American history. These trials resulted in the execution of 20 people who were accused of practicing witchcraft. The events of the Salem Witch Trials were fueled by superstition, fear, and accusations made by young girls who claimed to be possessed by witches. The hysteria began when a group of young girls in Salem Village accused several women in the community of being witches. These girls, who included Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, claimed to have witnessed strange and supernatural occurrences. Their accusations sparked an investigation by local authorities, who appointed a special court to handle the cases of alleged witchcraft.
Their accusations sparked an investigation by local authorities, who appointed a special court to handle the cases of alleged witchcraft. During the trials, the accused were subjected to torturous examinations and interrogations. Spectral evidence, which is based on dreams and visions, was considered valid in court.
The Personal Politics behind the Salem Witch Trials
Today is the first day of autumn. A beautiful time of year. But historically speaking, in an age of superstitution, people associated this season with darker things. There was much for a colonial New Englander to fear during lengthening autumn nights.
Fall always makes me think of Salem. And clearly, judging by the throngs of people who pack into the town as Halloween approaches, I’m not the only one. The Salem witch crisis began in late winter and continued for more than a year, so there is no particular reason to associate it with October. But the reasons for that are self-evident, I suppose.
It seems there’s always more to learn about the Salem Witch Trials. My interest in this episode is derived primarily from the complex historical events but also from the sometimes outlandish explanations advanced by historians and scientists seeking to explain those events. Take, for example, the theory advanced by an accomplished behavioral scientist who argues that the people of Salem Village suffered from ergot poisoning–the results of a fungus in rye bread that produces hallucinations similar to LSD. That seems to me to be making things rather more complicated than they need to be. There is ample evidence that the Witch Trials (or at least the manner in which the crisis began) were personal. One need not seek any further than that for explanations.
I’ve always felt that history is driven largely by personal politics. Larger economic, social and cultural factors do come into play. But when people do things, they are rarely thinking about the bigger picture. We generally do what is best for ourselves, our families and friends. For reasons that are quite personal, we tend to cooperate with the people we like, and we work against the people we don’t like. In some cases, our personal actions can have a ripple effect that affects history. The Salem Witch Trials are one of those cases in which personal choices, what at first seemed like small actions, had a tremendous impact on historical events.
Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum explored the bitter factionalism within Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts) in their groundbreaking work Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft, demonstrating the manner in which the Putnam and Porter families were at odds throughout the 1670s and 80s. Their thesis has been reinforced by other historians including Frances Hill in A Delusion of Satan. The Putnams were farmers, conservative, and disliked change. The Porters an up and coming family, branching into maritime trade in adjacent Salem Town. They had a more worldly view and were a bit more liberal in politics and religion.
The two families had locked horns over land disputes, but things became hotter when it came time for Salem Village to pick a new minister in 1689. The Putnams and their camp wanted Rev. Samuel Parris, a conservative minister who did not tolerate unorthodox views on religion. They got their wish, but in 1691, just months before the hysteria burst, the Porter camp managed to take control of local affairs and took steps to cut Parris’s salary.
Now we come to February 1692 and nine year-old Betty Parris (the minister’s daughter) playing games with her friend Abigail Williams. The girls fancied that they could foretell who their husbands would be by dropping an egg into a glass of water and interpreting its shape…a trick they may or may not have been taught by Parris’s slave Tituba. The minister caught them in the act, Betty went catatonic, and the local physician proclaimed that they had been bewitched.
Soon some of Betty’s friends started throwing fits and claiming that they, too, were bewitched. One of the most convincing at this game was 12 year-old Ann Putnam, Jr., daughter of Thomas and Ann Putnam. Before long, the girls were singling out people in Salem Village as witches. These people included Rebecca Nurse (the Putnams had been embroiled in a bitter land dispute with her family), the previous minister Rev. George Burroughs (the Putnams had had him imprisoned back in 1683 because he owed their family money) and three of those who voted against collecting the revenue for Parris’s salary–Philip English, Daniel Andrew and Francis Nurse.
Shrieking accusations from hysterical children weren’t enough to begin investigations, however. Written complaints had to be registered with the magistrates for the accused to be questioned and/or imprisoned. The majority of these, at least in Salem Village before the hysteria spread, were signed by brothers Thomas and John Putnam.
It seems the crisis evolved into a means for Parris and the Putnams to take out their rivals. One can only wonder to what degree the girls might have been coached to do what they did. It’s a terribly sad thing. Their rivals, the Porter camp, tried to put a stop to the hysteria. As a result, many of them were singled out as witches. It snow-balled from there, and became much bigger than the Putnams. But it certainly started with them.
Rev. Parris House foundation
It’s been a few years since I’ve managed to get to Salem and Danvers. I want to get there this year. Last time I was in Danvers, I was with a group of friends and we managed to find a site that had eluded me on prior trips as it’s hidden well off the road…Rev. Parris’s house…or what’s left of it. There’s just a foundation now.
There’s so much mythology around the Salem Witch Trials that at times the whole thing can seem like fiction. When sitting by this foundation, it seemed difficult to believe that this was the spot, a very real and tangible place where Rev. Parris caught his daughter practicing “magic.” Ground zero, as it were, for the Salem Witch crisis.
Note: In addition to Salem Possessed and A Delusion of Satan (from which the above interpretation is taken), I recommend Frances Hill’s Hunting for Witches, for those seeking a succinct version of the events. It also serves as a great guidebook to the historical sites in Salem and Danvers.
Note: In addition to Salem Possessed and A Delusion of Satan (from which the above interpretation is taken), I recommend Frances Hill’s Hunting for Witches, for those seeking a succinct version of the events. It also serves as a great guidebook to the historical sites in Salem and Danvers.
This unreliable evidence, combined with the rampant fear and suspicion in the community, led to the conviction and execution of many innocent individuals. The trials continued for several months, with more and more people being accused and arrested. The community was torn apart as friends and neighbors turned against each other, pointing fingers and making accusations. Many people, fearing for their own safety, fled Salem out of fear of being accused next. Finally, the trials began to lose momentum as doubts about the validity of the accusations increased. The governor of Massachusetts dissolved the special court and released those who were still imprisoned. In the aftermath of the trials, the legal system acknowledged the flawed nature of the proceedings, and compensation was given to the families of those who were wrongfully convicted. The Salem Witch Trials left a lasting impact on American society. They serve as a reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria, the importance of due process, and the lasting effects of false accusations. The trials have been the subject of many books, plays, and movies, cementing their place in American history and popular culture. Today, Salem embraces its dark past, with museums and tours dedicated to educating visitors about the trials and the lessons learned from them..
Reviews for "Reviving the Witchcraft History of Salem"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Witch pick salem". The storyline was confusing and all over the place. It felt like the writers couldn't decide on one direction and just threw in random elements hoping something would stick. The characters were also very underdeveloped and lacked depth. Overall, I found it hard to stay engaged and ended up losing interest halfway through.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - I didn't hate "Witch pick salem", but I also didn't love it. The pacing was extremely slow, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The movie also had a lot of unnecessary filler scenes that didn't contribute much to the plot. Additionally, the acting was subpar, with some performances feeling forced and unnatural. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat, leaving me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Emily - 1/5 - "Witch pick salem" was a complete waste of time for me. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, filled with cheesy one-liners that made me roll my eyes. The special effects were also laughable, looking cheap and fake. I couldn't take the movie seriously, and it didn't deliver any scares or thrills. It felt like a low-budget TV movie that tried too hard to be scary and failed miserably. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a decent horror film.
4. Michael - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Witch pick salem" as a fan of supernatural movies, but unfortunately, it fell short. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, following the same tired tropes and clichés. The jump scares were predictable, and there was a severe lack of tension throughout the film. The ending was also very abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving me feeling disappointed. Overall, "Witch pick salem" failed to offer anything new or memorable in the horror genre.