Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials

• The Salem Witch Trials began in what is now known as Danvers Massachusetts.

• In the 17th century Danvers was known as Salem Massachusetts.

• The Salem Witch Trials lasted from June of 1692 to September of 1692.

• By the end of the trials 150 people had spent time in jail and 24 innocent people were killed.

The Salem Witch Trials

• The trials began with 11 year old Abigail Williams and 9 year old Elizabeth Parris.

• These girls acted in a manner that was strange to the Puritans of the time.

The Salem Witch Trials• Abigail Williams was Elizabeth’s cousin.

Elizabeth Parris was the daughter of the town minister.

• Abigail and Elizabeth were not allowed to have toys or play like most children of the time would, this was seen as idleness and sinful.

• Instead the girls were encouraged to concentrate on chores and studying bible verses.

The Salem Witch Trials• At night Abigail and Elizabeth would spend

their nights by the fire with Reverend Parris’s slave Tituba (from Barbados).

• Tituba entertained the girls with magic, fortune telling and story telling from her homeland.

• This was forbidden by Puritan law.

The Salem Witch Trials• Abigail and Elizabeth began acting

strangely: speaking in tongues and having wild convulsions.

• The village doctor was called in, he was sure the girls were victims of witch craft.

• One Sunday in January as the Reverend began his sermon the girls in town fell into a fit.

The Salem Witch Trials• The town concerned for the girls asked

who had cast a spell on them.

• Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne were named.

• Tituba, a slave. Sarah Good, a homeless woman. Sarah Osborne a woman who had married her servant.

The Salem Witch Trials• When placed on trial both Sarah’s maintained

their innocence, Tituba however claimed there were other witches in Salem.

• This admission started the wave of hysteria that engulfed Salem.

• Behind this paranoia were Elizabeth and Abigail. The hysteria was being controlled by two young girls.

The Salem Witch Trials

• Many of those accused were prominent members of the Salem community.

• Many of these characters are seen in the play The Crucible.

Traits of a witch…

• Singing• Reading• Not conforming to Puritan law• Not getting along with your

neighbor• Spending time alone• Writing

The Accusation Process

• The afflicted person makes a complaint to the Magistrate about a suspected witch.  The complaint is sometimes made through a third person.

The Accusation Process

• The Magistrate issues a warrant for the arrest of the accused person.

The Accusation Process

• The accused person is taken into custody and examined by two or more Magistrates.  If, after listening to testimony, the Magistrate believes that the accused person is probably guilty, the accused is sent to jail for possible reexamination and to await trial.

The Accusation Process

• The case is presented to the Grand Jury.  Depositions relating to the guilt or innocence of the accused are entered into evidence.

The Accusation Process

• If the accused is indicted by the Grand Jury, he or she is tried before the Court of Oyer and Terminer.  A jury, instructed by the Court, decides the defendant's guilt.

The Accusation Process

• The convicted defendant receives his or her sentence from the Court.  In each case at Salem, the convicted defendant was sentenced to be hanged on a specified date.

The Accusation Process

• The Sheriff and his deputies carry out the sentence of death on the specified date.

If you were accused…

Flee Salem!

If you were accused…

Accuse someone else

If you were accused…

Get pregnant

If you were accused…

Confess, even though you’re

innocent

If you were accused…

Plead innocence and await trial

If you were accused…

Refuse to stand trial and await the

consequences

Go Blue

THERE IS A WITCH

AMONGST US!

Traits of modern witch…

• Listening to tiny people play music• Watching people move in a magic box• Wearing open toed shoes• Having vast amounts of information

available instantly• Standing on water• Moving great distances in short periods of

time

Traits of modern witch…

There is a witch amongst us…

One of you is a witch!

There is a witch amongst us…

• You know what a modern witch does, has anyone around you displayed these characteristics?

• Have you?

A modern witch…

• Can’t sit still• Likes to sing• Makes animal noises• Imitates other witches

So who is the witch?

Under each desk is a card (do not remove them until instructed).

Do not show anyone your card!

Some cards have instructions, some do not. If your card does not have instructions imitate a classmate.

Write down on a half sheet who you think the witch is (your top 5 picks)

After you’re told to stop we will see who the top

5 choices of witches are…