needs in a few hours. 2-3 paragraphs-must use citations posted.

1

Peterson

Jovan Peterson

Prof. Greg Miller

AMH-2010

09/08/2020

Salem Witch Trials

In the late 1700’s, Puritan religion rules the North East of America. Religious doctrine imprisoned the people with fear and accusation. Many innocent people suffered from unfair and vicious persecution. “In 17th century people often feared that the Devil was constantly trying to find ways to infiltrate and destroy Christians and their communities” (Blumberg 1). The Salem Witch Trials revealed the malicious and dangerous application of overzealous fanatics.

The Salem Witch Trials started in 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. The two afflicted girls accused three people of witchcraft. Tituba a slave, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne were the first people accused of being witches (Blumberg 1). Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne barely attended church so accusing them was quite easy. People fell for it, and they soon were questioned (History.com Editors). As for Tituba, she was a slave. It was illegal for slaves to practice Christian faith.

Once accused of being a witch, an arrest warrant would be made to have the person accused arrested. Once arrested, the accused would either plead guilty or innocent. While the trail was happening, the person would stay in jail until proven innocent or guilty. A court assembled in Salem to hear the cases. Most of the accused pleaded innocent. After pleading innocent, a trail would start. A body examination would take place. The accused body would be examined to see if the devil had left a mark of any sort. For example, birth marks or scars that looked unusual would be considered a mark from the devil which indicated there was a deal made with the devil (Blumberg 2). During these times, no evidence was needed to prove someone guilty. Many people were accused, because the government believed the young women who pretended to be cursed. Many young women accused many innocent people of being witches.

In Salem, the punishment for witchcraft was hanging. The first person to be convicted as a witch was Bridget Bishop. She was hung to death in that June.  Eighteen others were hung like Bishop that month, and around 150 more men, women and children were accused over the next several months (Blumberg 1). Nineteen accused people of witchcraft were hung on Gallows Hill in 1692 (Blumberg 2). One man was pressed to death, because he didn’t want to plea innocent or guilty. Around thirteen people died in jail waiting to be proven innocent (Blumberg 2). Approximately 150 people were accused of witchcraft.

The persecution ended when the governor’s wife was accused of being a witch. In 1709, the General Court announced the 1692 witch trials were unlawful (Blumberg 2). From those young women, only one took the blame. “Ann wanted to join the Salem Village Church, she first had to confess any sins or wrongdoings in her past” (Blumberg 2). Out of all the afflicted girls, she was the only one who apologized for accusing innocent people of witchcraft. The madness started to decrease, and the public turned against the trials. The Massachusetts General Court later ended guilty verdicts against accused witches and granted insurances to their families (Blumberg 3). Unpleasantness remained in the community, and the painful legacy of the Salem Witch Trials would endure for centuries.

In conclusion, this time in American history reveals the extreme significance of overzealous religious dogma. Puritanism ruled the day, and the church could sentence people to death. This violates a key aspect of democracy that separates religion from government. It is unfortunate that so many people suffered from religious fanaticism, but the rule of sanity finally prevailed.

Works Cited

Blumberg, Jess. “A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials.” Smithsonianmag.com, 23, October, 2007, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/?no-ist

History.com Editors, “Salem Witch Trials.”History, A&E Television Networks

May 12, 2020.https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-

witch-trials Date Accessed: September 6, 2020.