Salem witch trials Flashcards
What was the background to New England?
English colonists settled in North America, taking religion and beliefs with them.
Start of seventeenth century, approximately 40,000 people from British Isles crowded on packed ships, looking for fresh opportunity in America.
People leaving England at time of religious turmoil, Reformation and mini ice age.
What problems did Britain bring into America?
1617, smallpox epidemic, which travelled to Atlantic from British isles, decimating Native American Indian population.
What was the first ship to travel to America?
1620, The Mayflower set sail from port of Portsmouth, filled with around 100 passengers (puritans).
When was the Massachusetts Bay Colony established?
1629, on Puritan principles. Mindful that Devil was ever-present and trying to entice people into becoming witches.
Puritans in Massachusetts more militant than those in England, asserted religious liberties, whilst refusing to tolerate others.
Who was the first official witch to be executed in English colonies?
Alice Young, hanged 1647 in Connecticut (new England state, founded by Puritan settlers).
How many were hanged in new England before Salem trials?
Around 17.
Around 80 accused.
Were all the New England colonies established on Puritan beliefs?
No, Maryland was established on traditions of Church of England, with sacraments of the Catholic Church.
What was the main conflict in New England?
Conflict between old and new settlers.
When was a witchcraft law introduced to Massachusetts and what did it state?
- ‘If any man or woman be a witch (that hath consulted with a familiar spirit) they shall be put to death’.
What was witch-hunting like prior to the Salem witch trials?
Most cases were routed in long-term suspicions, mainly women on the fringes of society. Most accusations for maleficia.
Influenced by judicial scepticism in England, wanted proof, not speculations.
Many people in Puritan Massachusetts believed Satan and agents were present.
What was the Boston case?
1688, four of John Goodwin’s children started to behave strangely, as though they were in pain.
Cotton Mather, a Boston minister, concluded that they had been bewitched.
Mary Glover, washerwoman, had been found guilty and executed.
What was the political situation in Massachusetts?
1684, the royal charter by which Massachusetts was governed by ran out, which allowed colonists freedom, enabling the Puritan church theocracy.
Unpopular dominion of New England replaced the charter.
1689, Sir Edward Andros, governor of the Dominion was ousted following the Glorious Revolution in England. Catholic King James II replaced by Protestant co-leaders William and Mary.
Simon Bradstreet and Thomas Danforth resumed their posts as governor and deputy governor. They lacked constitutional authority to rule until new charter introduced. Puritans feared they would lose their autonomy and God’s commonwealth in Massachusetts would be overthrown.
Fears not needed, new charter approved in October 1691, stated Massachusetts should conform to English Law and allow religious toleration.
What was the impact of King William’s War?
1689, tensions erupted between English co
Colonists in Maine and French- supported Wabanaki Native Americans.
Over winter 1691-2, a stream of refugees fleeing Native American raids brought reports of massacres and predictions of savagery to come.
Children in particular fearful of what their parents were saying.
How many residents did Salem village have?
600
What were the internal disputes about?
Mainly about property and Church privileges.
Feud between two most prosperous families, Putnams and Porters.
Putnams wanted to sever village from Salem Town, establishing institutions of local government and worship. Supporters mainly on Western side of village, contributing to subsistence farming.
Porters wanted closer ties to Salem Town. Porters supporters are entrepreneurial and commercial.
Families in Salem usually committed themselves to one side, loyalty became a large issue.
Church became a focal point of tension.
What was the situation with ministers?
Putnams, anxious for the village to have its own congregation, appointed George Burroughs as minister 1681, lasted until 1682. Deodat Lawson replaced Burroughs, but appointment divided community.
1689, Samuel Parris became village minister. Parris had support of Putnam family, preached against those who opposed him, creating divisions.
Anti-Parris faction retaliated in October 1691 when Putnam- dominated rate committee was ousted and Porter dominated group took over.
Jan 1692, Parris worried, the rate committee controlled his salary.
When did the initial events leading to the Salem witch hunt occur and what happened?
Salem village, Feb 1692, Betty Parris (daughter of reverend Parris) behaved oddly, having fits. Cousin, Abigail Williams followed suit.
Similar to the Boston case.
Who was the local doctor in Salem village and what did he think of the two afflicted girls?
Illness not natural but the work of the Devil.
Reverend Parris not immediately convinced, continued to pray alongside minister John Hale. Prayer failed.
Which other girls on top of Betty and Abigail became afflicted?
Ann Putnam, whose father was Sergeant Thomas Putnam.
Mercy Lewis, servant in Thomas Putnam’s house.
Mary Walcott, niece of the Putnam’s.
Elizabeth Hubbard, Dr Griggs niece.
What were some of the explanations for Betty and Abigail’s behaviour?
- Psychological hysteria from Native American attack, Satan and smallpox epidemic.
- Possession neuroses, belief in Demons.
- Eating rye bread infected with ergot, fungus drug LSD is derived.
- Copying the behaviour of the Boston case.
What was the witch cake?
Feb, 1692, Mary Sibley (neighbour of Parris), instructed John, one of ministers Native American slaves to make a witch cake.
Traditional English magic to discover the identity of the witch.
Made from rye meal and urine from afflicted girls, when dog ate, was meant to cause witch to scream in pain.
Tituba, John’s wife made the cake.
What was the response to the witch cake?
Parris criticised Sibley, admonishing her for ‘going to the Devil for help against the Devil’.
Who was accused by Betty, Ann, Abigail and Mercy?
Between 25 February (when Tituba fed the witch cake to a dog) and 29 February (when first arrest warrant was issued), named Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba.
Why did Betty, Ann, Abigail and Mercy accuse who they did?
Traits typical for ‘usual suspects’.
- Tituba, a slave, legally an outsider.
- Good a disreputable beggar.
- Osborne old and rarely attended church meetings.
Were the accusations seen as part of the Porter-Putnam quarrel?
The first denunciations, alongside many of the others do not suggest this.
Yet, Rebecca Nurse was accused (11 March), when her family had been part of a quarrel with the Putnams.
It may have been that it was A factor, not the main.
