The Salem Witch TrialsThe Salem Witch Trials

“Examination of a Witch”

The HistoryThe History

In 1692, the British colony of In 1692, the British colony of Massachusetts was swept by a witchcraft Massachusetts was swept by a witchcraft hysteria.hysteria.

It resulted in the execution of 20 people, It resulted in the execution of 20 people, the jailing of 150 more, and the killing of the jailing of 150 more, and the killing of 2 dogs.2 dogs.

It is estimated that between 1 and 9 It is estimated that between 1 and 9 million Europeans were executed for million Europeans were executed for witchcraft in the 1500s and 1600s.witchcraft in the 1500s and 1600s.

Why were people accused of Why were people accused of being witches?being witches?

People in Europe practiced traditional folk People in Europe practiced traditional folk culture culture gathering herbs to prevent or treat diseasesgathering herbs to prevent or treat diseases worshiping elements or parts of the natural world worshiping elements or parts of the natural world

rather than a specific godrather than a specific god practicing pagan songs and ritualspracticing pagan songs and rituals

Contention in the colonies and other immigrants Contention in the colonies and other immigrants scared the Puritansscared the Puritans

So what does this all mean?So what does this all mean? Some people in Some people in

Salem, Salem, Massachusetts were Massachusetts were becoming too becoming too outwardly outwardly “religious” instead “religious” instead of inwardly of inwardly “spiritual.”“spiritual.”

People believed People believed there was a there was a conspiracy by Satan conspiracy by Satan to conquer the to conquer the colony by witches.colony by witches.

How it started . . .How it started . . .Betty Parris became strangely ill. She dashed about, dove under furniture, contorted in pain, and complained of fever. The cause of her symptoms may have been some combination of stress, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, epilepsy, and delusional psychosis.Talk of witchcraft increased when other playmates of Betty, including eleven-year-old Ann Putnam, seventeen-year-old Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott, began to exhibit similar unusual behavior.

A doctor called to examine the girls, suggested that the girls' problems might have a supernatural origin. The widespread belief that witches targeted children made the doctor's diagnosis seem increasingly likely. -Douglas Linder

The Year-1692The Year-1692

JanuaryJanuary Parris’ daughter, Betty, and niece, Parris’ daughter, Betty, and niece,

Abigail Williams begin acting Abigail Williams begin acting strangely and babbling incoherently. strangely and babbling incoherently. The village physician documents The village physician documents their ailments as hysteria.their ailments as hysteria.

The “Black Magic” RemedyThe “Black Magic” Remedy February 25, 1692:February 25, 1692: Parris’ Caribbean Indian slaves, Tituba and John Parris’ Caribbean Indian slaves, Tituba and John

Indian, bake a “witch cake” with the girls’ urine to Indian, bake a “witch cake” with the girls’ urine to feed to the village dog. feed to the village dog.

Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes the "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. bakes the "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog.

According to English folk remedy, feeding a dog According to English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail. Elizabeth and Abigail.

The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil. the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil.

A witch cake is composed of rye meal A witch cake is composed of rye meal mixed with urine from the afflicted mixed with urine from the afflicted children. It is then fed to a dog. The person children. It is then fed to a dog. The person is considered bewitched if the dog displays is considered bewitched if the dog displays similar symptoms as the afflicted.similar symptoms as the afflicted.

What is Witch Cake?What is Witch Cake?

Spectral EvidenceSpectral Evidence““The girls contorted into grotesque poses, fell down into frozen postures, and complained of biting and pinching sensations. In a village where everyone believed that the devil was real, close at hand, and acted in the real world, the suspected affliction of the girls became an obsession.” Douglas Linder

The Court’s RemedyThe Court’s Remedy

Early MarchEarly March: : Samuel Parris files a complaint to the Samuel Parris files a complaint to the

governor for a court to be issued. governor for a court to be issued. The colony operated in self-The colony operated in self-government until the end of 1693.government until the end of 1693.

Preliminary ArrestsPreliminary Arrests February 29, 1692: Arrest warrants February 29, 1692: Arrest warrants

are issued for Tituba, Sarah Good are issued for Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. and Sarah Osborne.

What were they investigating and What were they investigating and how did they punish?how did they punish? 1. Bound Submersion--1. Bound Submersion-- In this “test,” the supposed witch would be bound by her hands and feet In this “test,” the supposed witch would be bound by her hands and feet

with heavy rocks attached to her body, then thrown into a body of water. A witch’s body would with heavy rocks attached to her body, then thrown into a body of water. A witch’s body would presumably float, and an innocent woman would sink to the bottom. It was pretty much a lose-lose presumably float, and an innocent woman would sink to the bottom. It was pretty much a lose-lose situation.situation.

2. The Lord’s Prayer Test--2. The Lord’s Prayer Test-- If the accused could not recite the Lord’s Prayer without any errors, she If the accused could not recite the Lord’s Prayer without any errors, she was most certainly a witch.was most certainly a witch.

3. 3. The Witch’s Teat Test--The Witch’s Teat Test-- In this test, the accused would be pricked in any type of mole or blemish In this test, the accused would be pricked in any type of mole or blemish they may happen to have on their body. If it didn’t bleed, she was definitely a witch.they may happen to have on their body. If it didn’t bleed, she was definitely a witch.

4. Making a Witch Cake--4. Making a Witch Cake-- Sounds tasty, right? Eh, not so much. This cake was made with rye and Sounds tasty, right? Eh, not so much. This cake was made with rye and the supposed victim’s urine. They would feed it to a dog, and if the accused felt pain, she was a witch. the supposed victim’s urine. They would feed it to a dog, and if the accused felt pain, she was a witch. Think of it as a confectionary voodoo doll.Think of it as a confectionary voodoo doll.

5. Pressing--5. Pressing-- This was another way to torture the accused into admitting she was a witch. The This was another way to torture the accused into admitting she was a witch. The problem was that the victim couldn’t really speak under the weight of the heavy stones, so problem was that the victim couldn’t really speak under the weight of the heavy stones, so thatthat didn’t  didn’t work out too well.work out too well.

6. Sarcasm--6. Sarcasm-- A famous constable in Salem once said jokingly and out of frustration, A famous constable in Salem once said jokingly and out of frustration, “Hang them all, they’re all witches.” Unfortunately, nobody else shared his sense of “Hang them all, they’re all witches.” Unfortunately, nobody else shared his sense of sarcasm.sarcasm.

7. Bad Hearing--7. Bad Hearing-- In the case of Salem’s 71-year-old Rebecca Nurse, her hearing was In the case of Salem’s 71-year-old Rebecca Nurse, her hearing was the death of her. When asked to respond to allegations of witchcraft, Nurse failed to the death of her. When asked to respond to allegations of witchcraft, Nurse failed to respond, because she didn’t even respond, because she didn’t even hearhear the question. That’s all it took! the question. That’s all it took!

8. Talking to Yourself--8. Talking to Yourself--Accusers assumed this was the “witch” muttering spells.Accusers assumed this was the “witch” muttering spells.

9. 9. Weighing Them Against a Stack of Bibles--Weighing Them Against a Stack of Bibles--If the suspected witch was heavier or If the suspected witch was heavier or lighter than the stack, she was presumed to be a witch. If she balanced the Bibles lighter than the stack, she was presumed to be a witch. If she balanced the Bibles perfectly, she wasn’t. Totally sensical.perfectly, she wasn’t. Totally sensical.

10. Owning a Lot of Pets--10. Owning a Lot of Pets--Animals and witches were, apparently, two peas in a pod. Animals and witches were, apparently, two peas in a pod. If a fly landed in the accused cell while she awaited trial, it would often be assumed If a fly landed in the accused cell while she awaited trial, it would often be assumed that it was because of her witchcraft.that it was because of her witchcraft.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/h2/fbsp/salemwgna/gruesome-things-about-the-salem-witch-http://www.buzzfeed.com/h2/fbsp/salemwgna/gruesome-things-about-the-salem-witch-trialstrials

Dorcas Good- a juvenile caseDorcas Good- a juvenile case March 23, 1692:March 23, 1692: Marshal Deputy Samuel Marshal Deputy Samuel

Bradbrook arrests 4-year-old Bradbrook arrests 4-year-old Dorcas Good because of Dorcas Good because of physical impairments. physical impairments.

The arrest questioned the The arrest questioned the imprisonment of the imprisonment of the mentally and physically mentally and physically disabled.disabled.

Many of those accused of Many of those accused of witchery awaited their witchery awaited their fates inside small prison fates inside small prison cells, approximately 6 by cells, approximately 6 by 4 feet.4 feet.

http://www.geocities.com/http://www.geocities.com/laughtershock/salem.htmllaughtershock/salem.html

Right to PetitionRight to Petition

July 23, 1692. Several convicted “witches” July 23, 1692. Several convicted “witches” write petitions to the magistrates for release. write petitions to the magistrates for release.

John Proctor writes of about the atrocities John Proctor writes of about the atrocities that led to their confessions. that led to their confessions.

An excerpt reads, An excerpt reads, ““my son, William Proctor, when he was my son, William Proctor, when he was

examined, because he would not confess that examined, because he would not confess that he was guilty, when he was innocent, they he was guilty, when he was innocent, they tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed tied him neck and heels till the blood gushed out of his nose, and would have kept him so out of his nose, and would have kept him so 24 hours24 hours.”.”

Giles Corey’s deathGiles Corey’s death Giles Corey refused to give Giles Corey refused to give

testimony at the 1692 Witch testimony at the 1692 Witch Trials. Trials.

He would neither confess nor He would neither confess nor deny the charges brought deny the charges brought upon him. upon him.

So, in order to obtain a So, in order to obtain a statement, he was taken statement, he was taken outside, a board placed across outside, a board placed across his body, and heavy stones his body, and heavy stones piled on top. It piled on top. It is said that his only words is said that his only words before he was crushed to before he was crushed to death were: "More weight!" death were: "More weight!"

The ConsequencesThe Consequences

“The Hanging of Bridget Bishop” “The Arresting of a Witch”

“Accused of Witchcraft”

“The Salem Martyr”“Execution of Mrs. Ann Hibbins”

“Witchcraft at Salem Village”

Notice the young girl on the floor. The accusations in Salem started with a group of very young girls (9-17) who showed strange behavior. Some people say they may have eaten poisoned food or plants or had a new disease doctors did not know about.

to "help very much flatten that fury which we now so much turn upon one another".

The Massachusetts colony begins to The Massachusetts colony begins to reconsider the accusations reconsider the accusations

This leads to a reversal of some of the This leads to a reversal of some of the victimsvictims