2. Case Study - The Salem Witch Trials Flashcards
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What were the main causes debated regarding the Salem Witch Trials?
Religious fanaticism, social tensions, economic disparities.
How do gender dynamics play a role in interpretations of the trials?
Majority of the accused were women; feminist historians explore misogyny.
What is the debate between mass hysteria and rational responses?
Psychological explanations versus logical legal processes.
Who provided contemporary accounts of the trials?
Cotton Mather.
Which modern historians analyzed social and economic factors of the trials?
Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum.
Who examined gender roles and feminist perspectives in the trials?
Carol Karlsen.
What were early purposes of interpreting the Salem Witch Trials?
Justify actions within a religious framework.
What are modern interpretations of the trials?
Critique of mass hysteria and exploration of societal pressures.
What sources are used to study the Salem Witch Trials?
Court records, personal letters, sermons.
How have the trials been presented in modern times?
Academic texts, films, plays like Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’.
What interdisciplinary studies have been incorporated into the analysis of the trials?
Psychology, sociology, and gender studies.
How did contextual influences like McCarthyism affect interpretations?
Reflected contemporary issues of fear and accusation.
