What is mass hysteria? Mass hysteria is when most everybody develops a common fear that often spirals into a panic. The tragic story of the Salem Witch Trial contains mass hysteria back in 1692. In my two articles “Salem Witch Craft Trial” and “Mass Hysteria in Upstate New York” have similar problems. In both articles I will be explaining how mass hysteria played a key role in both of these issues. In the article “Salem Witch Craft Trial” it tells the history of the mass hysteria behind the whole
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English settlers. There was an exceptionally difficult time in Salem‚ Massachusetts in the early 1690s. This was the year that the Salem Witch Trials began. It was a time where none of the townsfolk trusted anyone and reports people for the silliest of things. These reportings lead to a series of cases of witchcraft in Massachusetts. These trials began in February of 1692 and drew out till 1693. It was one brutal year for the colonists of Salem that year (Brooks). It all started out in January of 1692
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classic example of all such social tragedies based on fear and ignorance is that of the colonial era ’s Salem Witch Trials. While Mc Carthyism was illustrated as a widespread fear of communism that led the United States to pursue unnecessary investigations‚ imprisonments‚ and often unprovoked acts against those who were often only remotely accused of being a "dreaded communist"‚ the Salem witch trials led to well over a dozen executions of local women accused of practicing witchcraft and directly
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understandable that the witch trials in the Massachusetts area would become such hysteria. Though many historians have attributed the cause of the Salem Witch Trials to economic instability between the thriving seaports and the languishing agriculture and the political struggle between the highly patriarchal society and the independent women who started to defy the status quo of women‚ these are not the most compelling cause of the Salem Witch Trials. Through the system of the trials‚ the people who were
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What Caused the Salem Witch Trial Hysteria? 1692 was a year packed with excitement and terror for the citizens of Salem‚ Massachusetts. Belief and accusations of people being witches/warlocks under the possession of the Devil swept across the town and wreaked havoc among its settlers. There are many possible ways to justify this madness. However‚ the 3 most valid and evidential reasons are: attention-seeking‚ jealousy (of one another and the amount of land owned)‚ and lack of acceptance towards
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The Witches of Salem Throughout history there have been endless occurrences that involved the suspicion of witches. Perhaps the most notorious occurrence happened back in 17th century colonial Massachusetts‚ where the village of Salem was torn apart by the accusations of witchcraft. Many innocent women and men were accused‚ tried‚ and executed during the Salem Witch Trials based on the false beliefs surrounding such tests as the touch test‚ pressing‚ devil’s marks and other absurd methods of examination
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Many assumptions have been made by historians to explain the occurrence of the Salem witchcraft trials‚ and on why the afflicted girls behaved the way they did‚ but yet there still seems to remain a sense of doubt on this issue. It seems that this case is not just because of one factor such as Ergotism‚ but several more. The affliction started by mind suggestion. The early beliefs and superstitions in Puritanical society that were practiced on an everyday basis supported the idea that the behaviors
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Sorcery in Salem began its mass hysteria in January 1692 when Dr. William Griggs diagnosed the first girls with being “bewitched”. He was the only physician in the village and since his educational background is unknown‚ we do not know exactly what education he has in the medical field but we assume that he had some medical training since he was the doctor in the village. Both of the young girls that was diagnosed as “bewitched” was Reverend Samuel Parris’s own daughter and niece. (Lawson‚ 2007)
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years surrounding the Salem witch trials. For one‚ the author’s ancestor was Martha Carrier‚ a key character in the novel and also known as the “Queen of Hell”‚ who was among the first of women to be accused of witchcraft. In this specific novel we relive the horrors that nine year old Sarah Carrier must face along with her family. The hysteria during the year of 1692 could have not been prevented‚ the superstition that would rise was inevitable‚ and the amount of damaged caused could have never been
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Salem Witch Trials DBQ The Salem Witch Trials‚ of 1692‚ occurred in Salem Massachusetts. This is a case where people accused other people of witchcraft. Salem was a town governed by strict Puritan religion‚ and to have such a charge labeled against you could cost you your life. There were many worldly reasons for the events that happened so many years ago. In this essay‚ I will explain why I think this tragedy occurred. One of the reasons why I think this took place was because of social problems
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