"Burn her! Hang her! Kill the witch!", the crowd yelled as young woman was being accused for witchcraft. She was caught in an alley performing strange rituals on a dog. In Massachusetts over twenty five thousand men, woman, and even children were accused of witchcraft. According to, Mitchoff, Kate Housten, author of, "Salem Witch Trials, the trials lasted from around 1600 to about 1700. Although not all guilty most were punished in inhuman ways. Because witchcraft wasn’t legal, anyone accused would
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Imagine eating some bread one day and the next being accused of witchery? That was exactly what occurred in the Salem Witch trials of 1692. When neighbors turned on each other and loyalties were broken in this tragic event. In the Spring of January 1692, a few girls in the village of Salem started to experience strange behavior. Muscle contortions, seizures, and sudden bursts of screaming. After the doctor said that it was a case of bewitchment, the girls immediately started to accuse their neighbors
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Jealousy has been around for centuries. Jealousy is a hideous thing that can cause people to do things that some of us would never imagine doing today. Or maybe some of us would, but only to an extent. One of the most known events more than likely known by this was the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The Salem Witch Trials were caused by many other things as well. However, the main causes of the trials were town division, lying girls, and jealousy. As above, the first reason for the Salem Witch
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During sixteenth and seventeenth century early modern Europe, demonic possession was a common occurrence, explained predominantly through religion and psychiatry. Demonic spirits were known to inflict the mind and cause an individual to act out of the ordinary. Although possession is more commonly associated with mental illness in today’s world, it can still be seen in modern religion and psychiatry. However, emphasis on the church was much more popular in early modern Europe, as it was believed
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People have a natural tendency to create mass hysteria around small events. In the 17th century, Puritans living in Salem accused one-another of witchcraft. In a society like Salem, many activities, such as music and dance were not allowed, as they were believed to be satanical practices. Some people convicted each other because of personal agendas and without evidence. Because of this, honor and respect were considered the value of each citizen. In The Crucible, Reverend Hale, John Proctor, and
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“Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft,” written by Paul Boyer and Stephan Nissenbaum, is a nonfiction book about the Salem witchcraft trials and how they came to light during the time of 1692. Boyer and Stephan wrote the book after taking an undergraduate research class at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst that required them to research a topic using “extended use of primary sources” (Salem preface). The book incorporates the religious, social, economic, and demographic factors
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In Stamford Connecticut 1692 a crisis broke out, a seventeen-year-old maid servant began to have intense fits and terrors claiming she was bewitched. Katherine Branch, the young maid servant for Daniel and Abigail Wescot continued to have intense fits and episodes. Young Katherine during many of her fits would suddenly collapse, cry out she was being poked and pinched by invisible creatures and also cry in a helpless terror. As the fits continued to happen they increasingly became worse and drew
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There are many allegations on how the Salem Witch Trials started. Of course, there will never be a definite answer, but there is a theory that is very convincing. Ergot poisoning. A fungus that infects rye has a byproduct called ergotamine, which is related to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, or LSD. Linnda Caporael, a psychology major at U.C. Santa Barbara, was told to choose a subject for a paper in her American History class. Her just seeing a production of “The Crucible” she began to write about
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The Salem Witch Trails were a time in which people believed in the supernatural. This belief began in Europe during the 14th century. It would eventually spread throughout colonial New England; due to increase fears of outsiders and resentment of fellow townspeople which were fueled by the smallpox epidemic and fears of Native American attacks, as well as a rival with the community of Salem Town. In January of 1692, two girls by the name of Betty Williams and Abigail Williams began to have fits
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Two children, Hansel and Gretel, try to find a healthy and safe place to live. Before they are born, the king’s favorite slave was turned to stone. Then, Hansel and Gretel were born. The king wanted him to come alive again. The statue spoke to him and his wife, saying, “ There is a way, king. You must cut off the heads of your children and smear my statue with their blood. And then, and only then, will I return to life.” So, the king chopped off Hansel and Gretel’s heads. The faithful servant brought
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