The Salem witch trials held in Salem Massachusetts began in late February 1692 lasting through April of 1693. These trials were based upon women who were accused of being witches, given unfair trials and therefore harming society. All told, this event became known as a tragedy as twenty-five people died, nineteen were executed by hanging, one was tortured to death, and at least five died in jail to due harsh conditions. Within this period of time, over one hundred sixty people where falsely accused, most were jailed, and many deprived of property and legal rights. Threating these innocent women to an unfair trial, nearly fifty people confessed to witchcraft knowing their chances of winning were slim to none. In October 1692, the governor,
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For example, late in 1691 Samuel Parris lived in a household along with his wife, three children, and a Caribbean Indian Slave, named Tituba, each who were steeped among his rigid beliefs. Elizabeth Williams, and her 11 year old cousin Abigail, began displaying symptoms of hysteria, including fits and convulsions which occurred off and on for months. Before long, these symptoms spread around the community and Salem Villagers began fearing that a plague of witchcraft had come to their town (Kallen 13). Some would claim the girls where acting, but it is virtually certain that Elizabeth and Abigail were highly impressionable and believed vigorously in what the Devil, magic, and witchcraft could to do hurt them; thus, fright caused them to descend into a genuine state of …show more content…
Her stories were inconsistencies to the teachings of home and church which made it difficult for the Puritan children to securely absorb her words (Birnes 70). Children learn by what they are taught through other people, and off of what they learn through their own experiences. These girls were taught to fear evil, but Tituba was their only experience outside the Puritan lifestyle due to the fact that they were excluded from everything else. Her stories enhanced the girls fears already placed on them through strict theology, in which overwhelmed their minds causing them to suffer from
For example, late in 1691 Samuel Parris lived in a household along with his wife, three children, and a Caribbean Indian Slave, named Tituba, each who were steeped among his rigid beliefs. Elizabeth Williams, and her 11 year old cousin Abigail, began displaying symptoms of hysteria, including fits and convulsions which occurred off and on for months. Before long, these symptoms spread around the community and Salem Villagers began fearing that a plague of witchcraft had come to their town (Kallen 13). Some would claim the girls where acting, but it is virtually certain that Elizabeth and Abigail were highly impressionable and believed vigorously in what the Devil, magic, and witchcraft could to do hurt them; thus, fright caused them to descend into a genuine state of …show more content…
Her stories were inconsistencies to the teachings of home and church which made it difficult for the Puritan children to securely absorb her words (Birnes 70). Children learn by what they are taught through other people, and off of what they learn through their own experiences. These girls were taught to fear evil, but Tituba was their only experience outside the Puritan lifestyle due to the fact that they were excluded from everything else. Her stories enhanced the girls fears already placed on them through strict theology, in which overwhelmed their minds causing them to suffer from