Historical Hysterias The Salem Witchcraft trials are notoriously known in history for its mass hysteria and paranoia within colonial Massachusetts during the 17th century. This paper will identify social and religious factors contributing to the Salem with-hunt‚ provide insight to who was behind it and why‚ and compare and contrast other examples of mass hysteria with that of the Salem witch-hunt. In colonial Massachusetts‚ the Puritan religion touched every aspect of line in the community. The
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In 1692 the area of Salem town and Salem village became very vulnerable to conflict. Severe weather such as hurricanes had damaged land and crops‚ the effects of King Phillips War began to impact New England society‚ and colonists were being forced off of the frontiers by Native peoples. The Church and the government were in heavy conflict. And those residing in Salem began to grow suspicious of one another when some prospered and others hadn ’t (Marcus‚ p13). Suddenly people seemed very paranoid
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connection. In the articles "Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive." Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. "Salem Witch Museum." Salem Witch Museum. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. "The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692." The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. William Griggs‚ township physician‚ was summoned. He insinuated that the girls’ ailments might have a supernatural source. His analysis was that the girls were bewitched. The people of Salem had a strong faith in the devil
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I am writing this report today to explain the major reasons behind the horrific witchcraft trials that took place in Salem‚ Massachusetts in the years 1692 and 1693. For years this event has been ignored. However‚ after analyzing the evidence in the case‚ I have some startling news to share. First‚ I will explain to you several theories that make the most sense. Then‚ I will tell you what I believe caused the Salem community to respond in such a cruel and violent way. Could a disease have caused
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In 1692‚ Salem‚ Massachusetts broke out into hysteria all because of an accusation about a witch. When a few teenage girls began accusing the older woman of Salem of witchcraft‚ suspicions started flying around. Soon neighbors were accusing each other‚ calling the Puritan church to get involved. After the church got involved many innocents lost their lives. Most of the teenage girls that accused the women of witchcraft‚ wanted their husbands for land and money. Not that the women did anything to
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What happened during the Salem Witchcraft Trials? The Salem Witch Trials started in Spring of 1692 and lasted until September of 1692. It was believed that people were possessed by the Devil. There were over 150 people accused. The first conviction was in June. As a result‚ 19 people were hanged. There was weird behavior coming from some of the girls. According to the History Channel‚ they “began having fits‚ including violent contortions and uncontrollable outbursts of screaming”. The odd behavior
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seem preposterous. Any behavior regarded as strange by fellow citizens was sufficient to hold a trial with a sentence of death. Though such scenarios seem unfathomable in our modern culture‚ it was a reality for hundreds of New England settlers. The causes of the famous outbreak of witch trials in Salem‚ Massachusetts are rooted in social‚ economic‚ and political aspects of the late 17th century Salem community. Early New Englanders were unable to accept the increase in diversity and the break in
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A time of death‚ fear‚ witches‚ scapegoating‚ and bizarre miscommunications between a community all in one area Salem‚ Massachusetts. Accusations broke out between the populace and people in 1692. The Salem Witch Hysteria (meaning a chaotic level of fear) of 1692 began with two girls‚ Betty Parris‚ daughter of Samuel Parris‚ and Abigail Williams. The young cousins first accused Tituba‚ a West Indian brought to assist them in their fortunes. Not too long afterwards‚ the young girls began acting strange
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The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark time in American history. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were killed during the hysteria. Ever since those dark days ended‚ the trials have become synonymous with mass hysteria and scapegoating. Causes Salem‚ Massachusetts was not alone in its witch hunt. A wave of witch trials swept Europe from the 1300s to the 1600s. These witch hunts happened for a variety of reasons and were greatly influenced by the fear
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Was the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria a Product of Women’s Search for Power? The Salem Witchcraft Trials was brought on by some young women. They accused many different people of performing witchcraft. Those who said they were innocent were killed and those who said they were guilty were used to help find more witches. Lyle Koehler says “Yes” in his book‚” A Search for Power: The ‘Weaker Sex’ in Seventeenth-Century New England.” He believes that women wanted more power‚ so they pretended to be
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