Name: ________________________

Period: _________

The Salem Witch Trials

1. What arguments does Cotton Mather give for the existence of witchcraft and why would people
listen to him?

2. How did the Salem witchcraft scare begin?

3.Whatevidencewasusedtoshowthatapersonhadbeenbewitched?

4. Why did the people of Salem believe the girls testimony?

5. Why would some women admit that they were witches?

6. According to Document E, what conclusions can be made based on the geographical pattern of
the map?

7. What evidence was used to prove that a woman was a witch?

8. What were the Salam Witch Trials?

9. What additional documents/viewpoints would be helpful? Who do we not hear from?

10. What factors and considerations motivated the witch trials of 1692 in colonial Salem,
Massachusetts? Include evidences from the documents.

Document A:
In the speech below, Cotten Mather, an influential leader of the Puritans, argues for the existence
of witchcraft:
I will prove that Witchcraft exists. Those who deny it exists argue that they never saw any witches,
therefore there are none. That would be as if you or I said: We never met any robbers, therefore
there are none.
I have two pieces of evidence that witchcraft exists: First, the Scripture mentions witchcraft.
Secondly, many people have experienced the horrors of witchcraft.
Source: Cotton Mather, Memorable Providences relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions, from A Discourse on Witchcraft,
(Boston, 1689), pp. 4-9. Cotton Mather was one of the most influential religious leaders in America at the time.

Document B:
I went to give Mr. Parris a visit. When I was there, his kinswoman, Abigail Williams
(about 12 years of age), had a grievous fit: she was at first hurried with violence to and
fro in the room (though Mrs. Ingerrsoll endeavored to hid her), sometimes making as if
she would fly, stretching to hid her arms as high as she could, and crying, whish,
whish! several times After that, she run to the fire, and began to throw fire brands
about the house; and run against the back, as if she would run up the chimney, as
they said, she had attempted to go into the fire in other fits.
Deodat Lawson, A Brief and True Narrative of Witchcraft at
Salem Village. Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases.
Edited by George Lincoln Burr, (New York:
Scribners, 1914.) p.154.

Document C:
Below is the testimony of a teenager accused of witchcraft, Abigail Hobbs, on April 19, 1692.
Judge: Abigail Hobbs, you are brought before Authority to answer to various acts of witchcraft.
What say you? Are you guilty, or not? Speak the truth.
Abigail Hobbs: I will speak the truth. I have seen sights and been scared. I have been very wicked.
I hope I shall be better, if God will help me.
Judge: What sights did you see?
Abigail Hobbs: I have seen the Devil.
Judge: How often, many times?
Abigail Hobbs: But once.
Judge: What would he have you do?
Abigail Hobbs: Why, he would have me be a witch.
Judge: Would he have you make a covenant with him?

Abigail Hobbs: Yes.

Document D:
Ann Putnams Deposition, 1692
Who testifieth and saith that on 20th of April, 1692 at evening she saw the
Apparition of a minister at which she was grievously affrighted and cried out oh
dreadful: dreadful her and What is your name for I will complaine of you tho you be a
Minister: if you be a wizzardand Immediately I was tortured by him being Racked
and allmost choaked by him: and he tempted me to write in his book which I Refused
with loud out cries and said I could not write in his book tho he tore al o peaces but
tould him that it was a dreadfull thing: that he which was a Minister that should
teach children to feare God should com to perswad poor creatures to give their souls
to the devill; oh, dreadfull, dreadfull, tell me your name that I may know who you are;
then againe he tortored me and urged me to writ in his book; which I refused and then
presently he tould me that his name was George Burroughs, and that he had three
wives: and that he had bewitched the Two first of them to death; and that he had
kiled Miss T. Lawson because she was so unwilling to goe from the village, and also
killed Mr. Lawsons child because he went to the eastward with Sir Edmon and
preached to the souldiers that he had made Abigail Hobbs a witch and several witches
more: and he has continwed evere sene; by times tempting me to write in his book and
grievously tortoring me by breathing, pinching and almost choaking me severall times
a day and he also tould me that he was above a witch he was conjurer.

Document E:
Uphams Map of Salem Massachusetts 1692
A =accuser
D =defender
W =accused of Witchcraft

Document F:

Caption: "Examination of a Witch" Thompkins H. Matteson, 1853.