Witchcraft in Salem study guide answers 1. What events led to the Salem witch trials? The Salem witch trials were sparked by a combination of factors, including religious beliefs, social tensions, and a climate of fear. The Puritan community in Salem, Massachusetts, held strict religious beliefs and believed in the existence of witches. This belief was reinforced by a series of unfortunate events, including crop failures and sickness, which were attributed to witchcraft. Additionally, there were social tensions within the community, including rivalries and disputes, which further escalated the suspicions of witchcraft. 2.
2. What were the main accusations against those accused of witchcraft in Salem? The main accusations against those accused of witchcraft in Salem were that they had made pacts with the devil, practiced black magic, and used their powers to harm others. The accused were often believed to have entered into a covenant with the devil, signing their names in his book.
Understanding the Salem Witch Trials
Engraving of a witchcraft trial at Salem Village. The central figure in this 1876 illustration of the courtroom is usually identified as Mary Walcott.
Salem, Massachusetts in 1691 was the home of a Puritan community with a strict moral code. In addition to the difficulties of farming in a harsh climate with rough terrain, Salem faced economic and political unrest. In this community, a group of girls accused an Indian slave named Tituba of witchcraft. Tituba confessed under pressure from court officials, and her confession ignited a hunt for witches that left 19 men and women hanged, one man pressed to death, and over 150 more people in prison awaiting a trial. In this lesson, students will explore the characteristics of the Puritan community in Salem, learn about the Salem Witchcraft Trials, and try to understand how and why this event occurred.
Guiding Questions
What was life like in Puritan New England?
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
To what extent do the historic records show that the accused were innocent until proven guilty?
Learning Objectives
Describe cultural practices of the majority in Puritan New England.
Create a timeline of the events of the Salem Witch Trials.
Analyze multiple interpretations of the Salem Witch Trials.
Construct a position on whether the trials were justified.
Subjects & Topic:A More Perfect Union
History & Social Studies
Civics U.S. History Grade: 6-8Lesson Plan Details
BackgroundSalem, Massachusetts in the late 1600s faced a number of serious challenges to a peaceful social fabric. Salem was divided into a prosperous town and a farming village. The villagers, in turn, were split into factions that fiercely debated whether to seek ecclesiastical and political independence from the town. In 1689 the villagers won the right to establish their own church and chose the Reverend Samuel Parris, a former merchant, as their minister. His rigid ways and seemingly boundless demands for compensation increased the already present friction. Many villagers vowed to drive Parris out, and they stopped contributing to his salary in October 1691.
These local concerns only compounded the severe social stresses that had already been affecting New England for two decades. A 1675 conflict with the Indians known as King Philip's War had resulted in more deaths relative to the size of the population than any other war in American history. A decade later, in 1685, King James II's government revoked the Massachusetts charter. A new royally-appointed governor, Sir Edmund Andros, sought to unite New England, New York, and New Jersey into a single Dominion of New England. He tried to abolish elected colonial assemblies, restrict town meetings, and impose direct control over militia appointments, and permitted the first public celebration of Christmas in Massachusetts, a celebration of which Puritans strongly disapproved. After William III replaced James II as King of England in 1689, Andros's government was overthrown, but Massachusetts was required to eliminate religious qualifications for voting and to extend religious toleration to sects such as the Quakers. The late seventeenth century also saw a increase in the number of black slaves in New England, which further unsettled the existing social order.
In February 1692, Betty Parris, Reverend Parris's daughter, as well as her friends Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam, became ill with symptoms that doctors could not diagnose, including fits and delirium. Dr. Griggs, who attended to the "afflicted" girls, suggested that they might be bewitched. Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, and Mary Warren later claimed affliction as well.
Prodded by Parris and others, the girls named their tormentors: Sarah Good, a poor woman; Sarah Osbourn, an elderly woman; and Tituba, a slave who had told them stories involving Vudou beliefs. The women were tried for witchcraft - Good and Osbourn claimed innocence, and Tituba confessed. Tituba's detailed confession included a claim that there were several undiscovered witches who wanted to destroy the community. This caused a witch-hunting rampage: 19 men and women were hanged, one man was pressed to death, and over 150 more people were imprisoned, awaiting trial.
On September 22, 1692, the last eight alleged witches were hanged. On October 8, 1692, Governor Phipps ordered that spectral evidence (when someone claimed to witness a person's spirit in a separate location from that same person's physical body) could no longer be admitted in witchcraft trials. On October 29, 1692 Phipps prohibited further arrests and released many accused witches. The remaining alleged witches were pardoned by May 1693. The hangings of witches in 1692 were the last such hangings in America.
For more information, see the following EDSITEment-reviewed websites:
- Digital History: The Salem Witch Scare
- Witchcraft in Salem Village
- Overview
- Tituba Biography
NCSS. D1.1.6-8. Explain how a question represents key ideas in the field.
NCSS.D2.His.1.6-8. Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts.
NCSS.D2.His.2.6-8. Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity.
NCSS.D2.His.3.6-8. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.
NCSS.D2.His.4.6-8. Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras.
NCSS.D2.His.5.6-8. Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time.
Preparation- Review the lesson plan. Locate and bookmark suggested materials and other useful websites. Download and print out documents you will use and duplicate copies as necessary for student viewing.
- Students can access the primary source materials and some of the activity materials via the EDSITEment LaunchPad.
- Familiarize yourself with the Salem Witch Trials. For an overview, consult Digital History. For more detailed information, consult Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive.
- If you plan to have students create pictures, or if you want to use larger sized paper for your students' timelines, be sure to have those materials handy.
- Though each reading activity provides questions for discussion for the readings, teachers may wish to spend a few minutes with students asking introductory questions to help distill what they have read.
They were accused of casting spells, causing illness, and manipulating the natural world to cause harm. Additionally, some were accused of possessing the ability to shape-shift and torment their victims. 3. Who were the key figures involved in the Salem witch trials? The key figures involved in the Salem witch trials included the accused, the accusers, and the court officials. The accused were primarily women, although some men were also accused. They came from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from the poor to the wealthy. The accusers were primarily young girls who claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft. They included girls such as Abigail Williams and Betty Parris. And finally, the court officials played a significant role in the trials. Notable figures included Judge Samuel Sewall and Judge William Stoughton, who presided over the court proceedings. 4. How did the trials progress and what was the outcome? The trials began with initial accusations, which quickly escalated into a frenzy of accusations and arrests. The accused were brought before the courts and faced intense questioning and scrutiny. The evidence presented against them often relied on testimony from the afflicted girls and spectral evidence, which was considered sufficient proof of guilt. The court proceedings were marred by hysteria, fear, and a lack of due process. Ultimately, 20 people were executed, 19 were hanged, and one man was pressed to death. Additionally, several others died in jail while awaiting trial. 5. How did the Salem witch trials impact society? The Salem witch trials had a profound impact on society at the time and in subsequent years. The trials exposed the dangers of mass hysteria, the power of fear, and the potential for injustice within the legal system. The trials also strained social relationships within the community, leading to mistrust and division. After the trials, there was a collective sense of guilt and remorse, and those convicted were posthumously exonerated. The trials served as a cautionary tale and influenced future legal proceedings, highlighting the importance of evidence, fair trials, and the presumption of innocence..
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Witchcraft in Salem Study Guide Answers: Everything You Need to Know