Essay on The Theories of the Salem Witch Trials - 1135 Words

The Theories of the Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch trials and what caused them is very debatable. Some theories lead to Rye poisoning from bread to even people faking it. The most believable claim is that people were faking it. Everyone had a motive and they all just wanted to save themselves. It was a time when people were selfish and only cared for themselves. This time in Salem was a troubling time, making it seem likely that satan was active (Linder). The townsfolk are believed to have been suffering from a strange psychological condition known as Mass Hysteria (Wolchover). Mass Hysteria is a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behavior or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of†¦show more content†¦Studies have shown that as the climate varied from year to year during this cold period, lower temperatures resulted with higher numbers of witchcraft accusations (Wolchover). Something like a winter fuel shortage would have made for a fairly miserable colonial home, and the higher the misery quotient, the more likely you are to be seeing witches. (Wolchover). Another, but highly unbelievable theory is that witchcraft actually existed. Twenty people and along with two dogs were executed for the crime of witchcraft in Salem. One person was pressed to death under a pile of stones for refusing to testify. While many people in the period believed that witches had supernatural powers given to them by the devil, many of the better-educated people acknowledged that witchcraft was practiced, but any spells that were cast only had power in the minds of the witch and those that thought themselves bewitched (Krystek). Cotton Mather, a respected Puritan minister who was there the time of the trials, wrote an account of them for the governor. His essay clearly shows that he believed that some of the people who were hung in Salem were indeed guilty of using black magic to torment the afflicted girls (Krystek). To see if anyone was a so called â€Å"witch†, physical evidence was considered. Any birthmarks, moles, warts, or other blemishes were see n as possible portals through which Satan could enter aShow MoreRelatedEssay on Salem Witch Trial Theories2283 Words   |  10 PagesBrennyn Mackey 2 May 2011 The Secret War of Salem Exposing the Culprit behind the Mass Hysteria The Salem Witch Trials were a series of infamous events that demand an explanation for their occurrence. The trials that took place in 1692 caused neighbors in the community of Salem Village in the colony of Massachusetts to turn on one another out of paranoia, accusing one another of witchcraft. According to Carol Karlsen, a longtime author of the subject, nineteen people were hangedRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials On Society And Religious Belief1245 Words   |  5 PagesThe Salem Witch trials are an infamous moment in American history , portraying old American thought on society and religious belief. Throughout the years, scholars have adopted theories to explain one of America’s greatest mysteries. In light of such theories, it becomes apparent that there is no magic to explain the decisions that the people of Salem made, but was rather fueled by jealousy of economic success and religious misguidance. Several theories explain the cause of the witchcraft accusationsRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1725 Words   |  7 PagesHistory took place. The Salem witch trials was one of the most catastrophic events worldwide in which people were accused, hanged, or sent to jail. 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The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most infamous events in American history, with Salem Massachusetts drawing thousands of visitors and generating millions of dollars every year, regardless of the fact that the trials did not actually take place in modern day Salem. The Salem Witch Trials took place between 1692 and 1693. By the time the court admitted that the trials had been a mistake, more than 200 people had been accused of witchcraft and 20 had been executedRead MoreWilliam Miller s The Crucible1262 Words   |  6 Pages 1.Participate in the Salem Witch Trials. Write a paragraph response, as the accused, describing your feelings. Salem Witchcraft Hysteria. National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2005. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. As the accused I feel hurt, betray and sorrowful. I have known these people all my life. We have grown up together and now they are believing a group of young girls saying that I am a witch. I don’t understand! I am a good Christian woman. 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