The Salem Witch Trials
Table of Contents
How it started … p.g 2
Court … p.g 3
Could anyone be accused of witchcraft? … p.g 4
What was jail like? … p.g 5
What were the punishments if you were found guilty? … p.g 5
When did the Salem witch trials end? … p.g 6
Conclusion …p.g 6
Introduction
You walk into the courtroom of Salem, Massachusetts. You have been accused of
witchcraft, but you know you are innocent still you are proven guilty. Your life will
never be the same. During the salem witch trials, innocent people were put in jail
and put to death. They were thought to be witches, and were attacking young girls
with their evil spirits. Even today, the Salem witch trials are one of the most fascinating
parts of American history. In this article you will learn about what the Salem witch
trials were, where when the happend, and how they affected the people of
Salem, Massachusetts.
witchcraft, but you know you are innocent still you are proven guilty. Your life will
never be the same. During the salem witch trials, innocent people were put in jail
and put to death. They were thought to be witches, and were attacking young girls
with their evil spirits. Even today, the Salem witch trials are one of the most fascinating
parts of American history. In this article you will learn about what the Salem witch
trials were, where when the happend, and how they affected the people of
Salem, Massachusetts.
How it started
Witch hunts had started in Europe in the 1300s and ended in the 1600s.
By the end of this era tens of 1,000s of people were executed mostly
women. Then in January 1692 two girls, 9 year old Betty Parris. Betty
was also the daughter of Reverend Parris who became Salem's first
ordained minister. Betty started acting very odd and having fits. Then,
Bettys 11 year old cousin, Abigail Williams started having fits too. Abigail
and Betty were acting extremely odd and having fits, hiding under chairs,
and claiming they are being poked, choked, and bitten. They said the
specter of Tituba, the family slave was using her spirit, her specter to
attack them. A specter is a evil spirit like a ghost sent by someone who
wants to attack someone else. Many people got worried because at the
time Puritans believed that the devil could give certain people known as
witches the power to harm others in return for their loyalty. Soon the
girls saw a doctor who stated that the are not sick but that this was the
work of the devil. Soon after, a 11 year old girl Ann Putnam started to
suffer from the same symptoms of Elizabeth and Abigail. Soon after,
these girls said that they know the person that was attacking them
they named 3 women from the town of Salem. The woman were
Tituba, Elizabeth's families Caribbean slave, Sarah Good a homeless
beggar, and lastly Sarah Osborne a poor woman. The girls and women
were sent to court.
By the end of this era tens of 1,000s of people were executed mostly
women. Then in January 1692 two girls, 9 year old Betty Parris. Betty
was also the daughter of Reverend Parris who became Salem's first
ordained minister. Betty started acting very odd and having fits. Then,
Bettys 11 year old cousin, Abigail Williams started having fits too. Abigail
and Betty were acting extremely odd and having fits, hiding under chairs,
and claiming they are being poked, choked, and bitten. They said the
specter of Tituba, the family slave was using her spirit, her specter to
attack them. A specter is a evil spirit like a ghost sent by someone who
wants to attack someone else. Many people got worried because at the
time Puritans believed that the devil could give certain people known as
witches the power to harm others in return for their loyalty. Soon the
girls saw a doctor who stated that the are not sick but that this was the
work of the devil. Soon after, a 11 year old girl Ann Putnam started to
suffer from the same symptoms of Elizabeth and Abigail. Soon after,
these girls said that they know the person that was attacking them
they named 3 women from the town of Salem. The woman were
Tituba, Elizabeth's families Caribbean slave, Sarah Good a homeless
beggar, and lastly Sarah Osborne a poor woman. The girls and women
were sent to court.
Court
You might think that these three women all got fair trials but really that
was not the case as you will find in this chapter. On February 29, 1692
Ann Putnam, Betty Parris, and Abigail Williams stated that the three
woman affecting and causing these fits were Tituba, Betty’s family’s
Caribbean slave, Sarah Good a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborne
a poor elderly woman. These women were sent to trial.
On March 1 , 1692 Sarah Osborne pleaded innocent as did Sarah Good,
but surprisingly Tituba confessed and said “the devil came to me and bid
me to serve him.” She describe images of black dogs, yellow birds, and
red cats. She said that a black man asked her to sign his book. Also that
the book was recruiting people to destroy the Puritans she also admitted
that there was many other women who signed the book. All three women
were put in jail.
was not the case as you will find in this chapter. On February 29, 1692
Ann Putnam, Betty Parris, and Abigail Williams stated that the three
woman affecting and causing these fits were Tituba, Betty’s family’s
Caribbean slave, Sarah Good a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborne
a poor elderly woman. These women were sent to trial.
On March 1 , 1692 Sarah Osborne pleaded innocent as did Sarah Good,
but surprisingly Tituba confessed and said “the devil came to me and bid
me to serve him.” She describe images of black dogs, yellow birds, and
red cats. She said that a black man asked her to sign his book. Also that
the book was recruiting people to destroy the Puritans she also admitted
that there was many other women who signed the book. All three women
were put in jail.
Could anyone get accused of witchcraft?
Most definitely, you could get accused of witchcraft if you were innocent.
Imagine that you are a normal colonial girl, but little did you know your life was
about to change for the worst. Suddenly, a friend of yours starts becoming ill
and having fits, she's always been jealous of you. Shes says that the specter
of you is biting, pinching, and poking her. You are sent to trial, you do not have
evidence to say you are innocent even though you are. Your accuser says her
flowers died when you were around and her milk spoiled as well. You are at
loss for what to do then you remember that 90% of people go to jail if the don’t
plead guilty. For example Tituba said she was guilty and did not have to wear
chains in jail. You say you are guilty and you go to jail. You may think this was
a fake scenario but that had been what had happened to many people and it
wasn’t fair. People could accuse you if you had too many children or not
enough. People who were very rich or very poor for example Sarah Good a
beggar. People who could be accused for not going to church enough, that
was very important to the Puritans. Also you can be accused on your
personality for example women who were stubborn, flirty,or pushy. You could
also be accused for breaking puritan rules such as you can not ride your
horse on Sundays and you must to go to church as well. As you can see it
was not a fair system at all. Some children's parents are accused, put in jail
or executed. The children are forced to care for themselves. Imagine caring
for you and your siblings all by yourself. The small happy town of
Salem, Massachusetts now became a community of upset, sad and fearful
people.
Imagine that you are a normal colonial girl, but little did you know your life was
about to change for the worst. Suddenly, a friend of yours starts becoming ill
and having fits, she's always been jealous of you. Shes says that the specter
of you is biting, pinching, and poking her. You are sent to trial, you do not have
evidence to say you are innocent even though you are. Your accuser says her
flowers died when you were around and her milk spoiled as well. You are at
loss for what to do then you remember that 90% of people go to jail if the don’t
plead guilty. For example Tituba said she was guilty and did not have to wear
chains in jail. You say you are guilty and you go to jail. You may think this was
a fake scenario but that had been what had happened to many people and it
wasn’t fair. People could accuse you if you had too many children or not
enough. People who were very rich or very poor for example Sarah Good a
beggar. People who could be accused for not going to church enough, that
was very important to the Puritans. Also you can be accused on your
personality for example women who were stubborn, flirty,or pushy. You could
also be accused for breaking puritan rules such as you can not ride your
horse on Sundays and you must to go to church as well. As you can see it
was not a fair system at all. Some children's parents are accused, put in jail
or executed. The children are forced to care for themselves. Imagine caring
for you and your siblings all by yourself. The small happy town of
Salem, Massachusetts now became a community of upset, sad and fearful
people.
What was jail like
The jails that the ‘’witches’’ stayed in if they were found guilty were awful.
There was perhaps a bucket used for a toilet. You had to pay for the
chains around your arms and feet if you didn’t you would never get out
jail. You also had to pay fees and if you didn't you also never get out of
jail. You had to pay for clean straw. There was little food and water as
well as no way to keep clean. Many people, almost as much as 150
people stayed in jail awaiting trial. Try to imagine a dirty, crowded,
disgusting cell with dirty straw, foul smells, and sick people. Then,
imagine you living there from anytime to a week to a year or more.
It's not the best feeling and definitely far from a hotel. But that was
what it was like in jail if you were found guilty, awaiting trial.
There was perhaps a bucket used for a toilet. You had to pay for the
chains around your arms and feet if you didn’t you would never get out
jail. You also had to pay fees and if you didn't you also never get out of
jail. You had to pay for clean straw. There was little food and water as
well as no way to keep clean. Many people, almost as much as 150
people stayed in jail awaiting trial. Try to imagine a dirty, crowded,
disgusting cell with dirty straw, foul smells, and sick people. Then,
imagine you living there from anytime to a week to a year or more.
It's not the best feeling and definitely far from a hotel. But that was
what it was like in jail if you were found guilty, awaiting trial.
What were the punishments if you were proven guilty?
After reading the last chapter you know the Salem witch trials were unfair,
and cruel especially the jails, but it gets worse. After you have been in jail
you go to one more trial before you are proven guilty and executed.
Imagine you are at the trial and your accuser starts having fits when you
walk into the courtroom and starts copying everything you do. After a
long unfair trial you once again are proven guilty. The sheriff comes to
your jail cell and brings you to a tree the whole town is watching, your
parents are crying as the rope goes around your neck and you stand on
a cart as you are tied to a tree. Finally the cart moves and that ends your
life. Hanging was the most common way to execute a so called witch but
there was other punishments. Once a man was crushed to death this is
how it happened he laid on the ground. Then, heavy rocks were placed
on top of person until finally the person died. Another punishment is
people poured or dipped boiling oil on peoples skin and impaled them
with spikes,whipped people,and stretching their limbs out on a rack.
And lastly in the earlier witch hunts in Germany people were thrown in
fires. That sound extremely painful, scary and more painful.
and cruel especially the jails, but it gets worse. After you have been in jail
you go to one more trial before you are proven guilty and executed.
Imagine you are at the trial and your accuser starts having fits when you
walk into the courtroom and starts copying everything you do. After a
long unfair trial you once again are proven guilty. The sheriff comes to
your jail cell and brings you to a tree the whole town is watching, your
parents are crying as the rope goes around your neck and you stand on
a cart as you are tied to a tree. Finally the cart moves and that ends your
life. Hanging was the most common way to execute a so called witch but
there was other punishments. Once a man was crushed to death this is
how it happened he laid on the ground. Then, heavy rocks were placed
on top of person until finally the person died. Another punishment is
people poured or dipped boiling oil on peoples skin and impaled them
with spikes,whipped people,and stretching their limbs out on a rack.
And lastly in the earlier witch hunts in Germany people were thrown in
fires. That sound extremely painful, scary and more painful.
When did the Salem witch trials end?
At the end of 1692 and early 1693 the Salem witch trials started to end.
The governor of the colony Governor Phipps, found out his wife had been
accused of witchcraft. He order an end to all trials, hangings as well as
freeing the accused witches from jail. But as the aftermath of the witch
trials 200 people had been accused and 20 had been executed and
most of the 20 had said they were innocent. Many people had lost family
members as well pets. It is true that during the Salem witch trials 2 dogs
were executed. But luckily its was the end of an era and the Salem witch
trials were over. If governor Phipps had not stopped the witch trials there
would be a chance they would still be around today. In my opinion the
witch trials had unfair trials, also there were many harsh punishments, as
well as very scary to the people of Salem.
The governor of the colony Governor Phipps, found out his wife had been
accused of witchcraft. He order an end to all trials, hangings as well as
freeing the accused witches from jail. But as the aftermath of the witch
trials 200 people had been accused and 20 had been executed and
most of the 20 had said they were innocent. Many people had lost family
members as well pets. It is true that during the Salem witch trials 2 dogs
were executed. But luckily its was the end of an era and the Salem witch
trials were over. If governor Phipps had not stopped the witch trials there
would be a chance they would still be around today. In my opinion the
witch trials had unfair trials, also there were many harsh punishments, as
well as very scary to the people of Salem.
1300-1600 January 1692 February 29, 1692 May 10,1692 July 19, 1692
First, in 1300-1600 the Next, January 1692 Then, on February 29,1692 On May 10,1692 On July 19, 1692
witch trials in europe. Abigail,Betty and Tituba , Sarah Good , and Sarah Osborne Sarah Good was
Ann start having fits. Sarah Osborne were died in jail. She died hung.
accused of witchcraft due to living conditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion of the Salem witch trials they were a very scary time
for the people of Salem. They thought the devil was among them
and started making accusations about witches. Which lead to many
trials,deaths, and people going to jail. It was not a joyful time in
American history. Though it was not joyful time it was fascinating
especially about the way the people of Salem reacted to this hardship.
They resorted to trials and extreme punishments whereas I think people
would handle this situation differently in the present. For example
I believe people would see if there was a sickness that was causing the
fits instead of assuming it was the work of witches. Therefore there is
many differences in the way people act,think, and react to certain things.
Like Salem was made up of Puritans who had a strong belief that the
devil could give certain people the power to hurt others in exchange for
serving the devil. The Salem witch trials were a very scary time in
American history. In conclusion the Salem witch trials are still one
of the most interesting,fascinating, and scary times. Even if it happened
over 300 years ago.
for the people of Salem. They thought the devil was among them
and started making accusations about witches. Which lead to many
trials,deaths, and people going to jail. It was not a joyful time in
American history. Though it was not joyful time it was fascinating
especially about the way the people of Salem reacted to this hardship.
They resorted to trials and extreme punishments whereas I think people
would handle this situation differently in the present. For example
I believe people would see if there was a sickness that was causing the
fits instead of assuming it was the work of witches. Therefore there is
many differences in the way people act,think, and react to certain things.
Like Salem was made up of Puritans who had a strong belief that the
devil could give certain people the power to hurt others in exchange for
serving the devil. The Salem witch trials were a very scary time in
American history. In conclusion the Salem witch trials are still one
of the most interesting,fascinating, and scary times. Even if it happened
over 300 years ago.
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