History is a complicated subject. It has stories full of uplifting and courageous events: wars fought and won, inspiring people who helped to shape the world. Yet, as there are these righteous events, so must there be the dark, gruesome, and depressing stories. Every place has its dark moment; the time in its history that the people would rather the world simply forget about. In a little town in Massachusetts, the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a perfect example of such a dark time. Filled with confrontation, accusation, and misery, these trials proved to be a feat for anyone accused of being a witch to overcome. Blown out of proportions, this particularly demeaning situation soiled Salem’s name for years to come as it became a hunt for blood,
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Another favorite among the townspeople was forcing confessions out of the accused using various torture methods. If the newest witch was being difficult by pleading innocent instead of accepting her death sentence, her confession could be forced out of her through repeated dunking in a river while her hands and feet were tied up. This method was designed to make the accused wear down and eventually confess. The torture method was also effective in making them believe in the lie themselves. As their mental state deteriorated, it became easier to just accept the fate that so many were throwing at them. Another method was pressing. Over time, heavy rocks were placed on the accused, slowly crushing them to death. If they confessed before their demise, the weight would be lifted and the accused who had just confessed to being a witch would be executed in some other form. One problem was that the crushing weight made talk nearly impossible. One man, an eighty-year old named Giles Corey, was put to this test when he refused to confess. He had been accused of being a warlock. Men could also be satan’s tool, it was just not as prominent. Corey refused each time to speak of the matter and was slowly crushed to death under the weight of the …show more content…
There are many factors that contributed to the start of the witch hunt. Politics were a leading factor. The six hundred or so residents of Salem were split between half wanting to separate from Salem Town, while the other half wanted to remain where they were. Like any split in a group, this caused tensions and conflict to form. The group that wished to remain were generally located on the eastern side of Salem Village, closer to Salem Town than those who wanted to leave. Also, economically thriving harbors kept the easterners close to home. Religion also played a role in setting the atmosphere for disaster. Another split was formed within the Puritans. The group who wished to leave Salem Town did so, and set up a congregation formed under Reverend Samuel Parris. These followers started their worship in the Salem Village Meetinghouse. The residents who wanted to stay with Salem Town, already angered by the minister’s new perks of a fantastic salary, free firewood, title and deed to the parsonage and the land surrounding it, refused to worship at the Meetinghouse. Also, not wanting to help pay for the minister’s new lavish life, they refused to pay local
Another favorite among the townspeople was forcing confessions out of the accused using various torture methods. If the newest witch was being difficult by pleading innocent instead of accepting her death sentence, her confession could be forced out of her through repeated dunking in a river while her hands and feet were tied up. This method was designed to make the accused wear down and eventually confess. The torture method was also effective in making them believe in the lie themselves. As their mental state deteriorated, it became easier to just accept the fate that so many were throwing at them. Another method was pressing. Over time, heavy rocks were placed on the accused, slowly crushing them to death. If they confessed before their demise, the weight would be lifted and the accused who had just confessed to being a witch would be executed in some other form. One problem was that the crushing weight made talk nearly impossible. One man, an eighty-year old named Giles Corey, was put to this test when he refused to confess. He had been accused of being a warlock. Men could also be satan’s tool, it was just not as prominent. Corey refused each time to speak of the matter and was slowly crushed to death under the weight of the …show more content…
There are many factors that contributed to the start of the witch hunt. Politics were a leading factor. The six hundred or so residents of Salem were split between half wanting to separate from Salem Town, while the other half wanted to remain where they were. Like any split in a group, this caused tensions and conflict to form. The group that wished to remain were generally located on the eastern side of Salem Village, closer to Salem Town than those who wanted to leave. Also, economically thriving harbors kept the easterners close to home. Religion also played a role in setting the atmosphere for disaster. Another split was formed within the Puritans. The group who wished to leave Salem Town did so, and set up a congregation formed under Reverend Samuel Parris. These followers started their worship in the Salem Village Meetinghouse. The residents who wanted to stay with Salem Town, already angered by the minister’s new perks of a fantastic salary, free firewood, title and deed to the parsonage and the land surrounding it, refused to worship at the Meetinghouse. Also, not wanting to help pay for the minister’s new lavish life, they refused to pay local