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Salem Witch Trials

Many of the American colonists brought with them from Europe a belief in witches and the devil. During the seventeenth century, people were executed for being witches and follower of Satan. Most of these executions were performed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Mostly all of the accused were women, which makes some modern historians believe that the charges of witchcraft were a way of controlling the women who threatened the power of the men. During the witchcraft trials, hundreds of arrests were made, and some were even put to death on Gallow’s Hill (Karlsen 145).

In 1698, the villagers of Salem won the right to establish their own Church. They chose the Reverend Samuel Parris as their minister. Many of the villagers were then sorry that they had done so because of his harsh demands. They then vowed to force him out. There was much pressure surrounding the Parris family. The children of the family would entertain themselves by listening to stories told by Tituba, their slave (National Geographic).

January of 1692 is when the mass hysteria of the Salem witch trials first began. The Puritans of this time were very harsh, unyielding, and quick to judge. They condemned innocent women on the basis of int

. . .
From the answer given by Sarah Good, it seems as if she has just said that she made a contract with the devil. During this time, there was a strong belief in the devil and feeling of superstition. Also, some had previous records of criminal activity, but still others were faithful churchgoers and people of high standing respect. The new Governor, Sir William Phips, who was sent from England, set up a special Court of Oyer and Terminer to hear and decide the remaining witchcraft cases.

Nine year old Betty Parris and eleven year old Abigail Williams, the daughter and niece of Reverend Parris, were the first to start to display signs of strange behavior. She was found guilty and condemned to death. Prayer Services and community fasting were organized by the Reverend Samuel Parris in hopes of relieving the evil forces that supposedly plagued the community. “Have you made no contract with the devil?”, “No”, answered Sarah Good (Hill 43). “The devil came to me and bid me serve him”, she stated in her confession (National Geographic). So the record says, “so they all did look upon her and said this was one of the persons that did torment them” (Hill 44).

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