The Salem Witch Trials

Objectives

Understand the basic facts about the Salem Witch Trials and different theories for the hysteria.

Explore primary source documents to understand the stories of various people involved in the trials.

Describe characteristics of Puritanism and its role in 17th-century Salem.

VocabularycolonyDefinition: A country or area that is ruled by another countryContext: The English colony of Jamestown was established in 1607, and it endured much hardship in its early years.ergotDefinition: A toxic fungus that infects rye; contains toxins that cause tingling in the fingers, hallucinations, and convulsionsContext: Ergot poisoning may have inflicted some girls early on, perhaps even triggering the hysteria.hysteriaDefinition: A state of uncontrollable and exaggerated emotionContext: The hysteria in Salem began with convulsions in a handful of teenage girls.

VocabularypharmacologistDefinition: Someone who studies how drugs are produced and used to treat diseases and their effectsContext: The team contacted a pharmacologist to learn how the poisonous chemicals in ergot might have affected the girls in Salem.Puritans Definition: A group of Protestant colonists in 17th-century America who believed in strict religious discipline and followed a strict moral code Context: The Puritans believed that before they arrived in America, America was the devil’s territory.

Basic Facts of The Salem Witch Trials

Where and when did the trials occur? What were the accusations? Who were some of the accusers and

accused? What was the outcome of the trials? Salem Witch Trials: The Story

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

How the witch trials were different from a typical court trial today.

People were accused and convicted based on evidence that only the accuser could see, such as apparitions or ghosts.

The great mystery of the Salem Witch Trials is how an entire town believed this evidence, triggering mass hysteria.

Different theories for the Salem Witch Trials(as presented in the video)

Chemical poisoning from ergot; Fear of devil inflamed by the Indian Wars and

distrust of those opposed to war; Group psychology or the power of suggestion. These are just three possible factors in the

mass hysteria during the witch trials. None of these theories is meant to offer a single

explanation for the witch trials.

Other theories for the Salem Witch Trials

Explore other factors at the Web site below: http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/s

alemwitchtrials/life/ Take notes as you read, pay close attention to

the characteristics of Puritanism and its role in 17th-century Salem.

The People Involved There is a wealth of documents from this time

period, including extensive transcripts from the trials. (Examples of primary documents)

Divide into six groups; Each group will be assigned on of the people

from the following Web site: http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/s

alemwitchtrials/people/

Investigate the Past Each group will read the biography and the

primary source excerpt for their assigned person;

Then give a brief presentation to the class, first describing the person’s role in the witch trials, then reading aloud from the primary source.

The rest of the class will consider the person’s feelings or beliefs at the time of the trials and try to figure out the motivations behind his/her actions.

How much do you remember?? Q: How and when did the Salem witchcraft

epidemic begin? A: The epidemic that led to the Salem Witch Trials

began in a town called Danvers, at the time known as Salem Village. Sometime early in1692, several children in the Samuel Parris household had convulsions and hallucinations. At first they accused Tituba, a Caribbean serving woman, of being a witch. Soon more cases of convulsions and accused witches spread throughout the county, and an epidemic began.

How much do you remember?? Q: How might the social atmosphere of 17th-

century America have helped bring about the witchcraft epidemic?

A: The Massachusetts colonists were in the middle of a brutal war with the Wabanaki Indians in 1692. The war was like fighting the devil to the Puritans, who believed that the Americas had been the devil’s territory prior to their arrival. So they may have seen a clear connection between the hysteria of young girls and the raging war with the Wabanaki.

How much do you remember?? Q: How might the social atmosphere of 17th-century

America have helped bring about the witchcraft epidemic?

A: The Massachusetts colonists were in the middle of a brutal war with the Wabanaki Indians in 1692. The war was like fighting the devil to the Puritans, who believed that the Americas had been the devil’s territory prior to their arrival. So they may have seen a clear connection between the hysteria of young girls and the raging war with the Wabanaki.

How much do you remember?? Q: What are the connections between ergot and

Salem witch-hunting? A: Ergot is a toxic fungus that affects rye; the

toxin causes tingling in the fingers, hallucinations and convulsions—all symptoms that appeared in those who accused others of being witches. Ergot thrives in wet summers followed by cold summers, conditions that were present in Salem during January and February of 1692. Ergot poisoning among of the accusers may have been a contributing factor.

How much do you remember?? Q: Why did the scientists discount ergot poisoning as

the cause of the mass hysteria in Salem? A: After consuming bread that contains ergot, the tissue

on a person’s fingers and toes become gangrenous. During the Salem trials, no mention of gangrene was made. If ergot were the cause of mass hysteria, people would have had to ingest it over a long period of time, and symptoms of gangrene would have been observed. Therefore, ergot poisoning was ruled out as the primary factor in the mass hysteria behind the Salem witch trials.

Could it happen again? Here? Q: Do you think something like the Salem

witch trials could occur in the United States today?

Walk a Mile in a Man’s Shoes

The following is based upon historical events...

Act 1 Notes

Crucible n. 1.a container made of a substance that can resist great heat, for melting, fusing, or calcining ores, metals, etc. 2. The hollow at the bottom of an ore furnace, where the molten metal collects 3. A severe test or trial

Why did Miller name this play The Crucible?

Summary: Act 1