Salem Witch Trials: Salem Massachusetts

Salem witch trials: Salem Massachusetts

In Salem Massachusetts in 1962 is when witchcraft came to be known. The Salem Witch Trials were a series of witchcraft cases It started in a small village in Salem Massachusetts, Where Puritans beliefs impacted the colony, it was first brought before local magistrates in a settlement called Salem which was a part of the Massachusetts Bay colony in the 17th century. The three main causes of the witch trials were political and religion and economic finances.

It started when Betty Parris, followed by Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Mary Walcott and Mercy Lewis. Started to experience fever and outburst, In February Reverend Parris called for Dr. William Griggs, to examine the girls. The doctor was unable to find anything physically wrong with them and suggested they may be bewitched shortly after the two girls named the women they believed were bewitching them. These women were Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn and a slave named Tituba they were known has Reverend Parris servant’s and slaves.

On march 1 Tituba confessed that she has been visited by the devil Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn also stated they to had been approached by the devil.

Political parties were going by a revoked charter which was a legal document that allows them to colonize the area. In 1691 it was revoked because they combined baisinglaws on religious beliefs and discriminating Anglican. James 2nd took Charles 2nd place after he died, and appointed government with new and strict laws. New England then overthrew the unpopular Dominion after the Glorious Revolution occurred in 1689 in England. The new king William and Queen Mary had created a new and more anti-religion charter, and combined the Plymouth colony and Massachusetts colony and other colonies into one. The charter has the same policies of the Dominion of New England. Puritan’s left England due to religious prosecution, who was afraid their religion was under attack and they were starting to lose control of their colony. They had moved to Salem Massachusetts and started a new colony and made themselves out cast. When the Reverend Parris daughter and niece and Thomas Putnam, had gotten scared after they were accused of being bewitched. They had to create a excapegoat and they encouraged the girls to lie and accuse certain people in the community, all because they didn’t like them. In April their where a lot more people were accused of being witches. Due to so many cases Governor Phips set up a special court, of Oyer and Terminer, to” hear and determine” the cases. The court contained eight judges. In May over 30 people was arrested and accused, George Jacobs Jr. And Daniel Andrews were issued warrants but they escaped and ran.

Religion was an issue in the puritan’s colony due to their beliefs, they believed in the Devil and witches and attending church was always and you can’t have freckles. Their woman and young girls had to be obedient and be quiet, and all there allowed to do is stay home and cook and clean. They also used their religion beliefs as their law instead of going by the charter, so it made them have high expectations and put a lot of pressure on the towns people. Due to the hysteria the jail was overcrowded so they built a bigger jail in 1813. They had the trials at Reverend Parris house due to the court house was too small. The three woman accused who was Sarah Good was homeless person who begged on a daily basis. Sarah Osborn who barely attended church in Salem village who also disapproved of her life style. Tituba was the Reverend Parris save the towns people didn’t know what her ethnicity, they thought she was Native American or African. She was also accused of teaching the girls demonology and voodoo and reading cards and reading books. Their where people who dint believe the girls one was Martha Corey is a member of the church and stated that she didn’t not believe the girls. Then later she was accused of being