Eric Bracewell Febuary 2, 2011 3rd Block

Salem Witch Trials

Loiselle, B. (2009). Salem Witch Trials. Salem Witch Trials, 1-2. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692, was a very astonishing hysteria that was most irrational for a
group of such rational people. This “madness” that struck the town of Salem was aroused by three
young girls started a chain reaction in exposing the ignorance of Salem. Although Salem was not the first
town to make false accusations of citizens being witches, it was certainly the first to take it to such a
large scale, 150 people were jailed and twenty were executed for allegedly being associated with Satan.
Many explanations have been made as to why the authority figures in Salem were making such illogical
decisions, for example the reduced harvest of that year, and a small pox epidemic, and great political
struggles at that time.

During this time of social uncertainty, a group of young girls became involved in activities that
would be deemed as witchcraft, such as fortune telling, which was performed by Tituba, a slave woman.
The girls began experiencing unexplainable fainting, and seizure like symptoms. The only option the
people had to turn to was the assumption that they were witches. This lead to the accused feeding the
authority figures lies to make their enemies suffer along with them. This is what would later be referred
to as a “Witch Hunt.”

With the lack of a Charter for the colony of Massachusetts the local magistrate courts felt that
they didn’t have the authority to handle such a massive undertaking. This put a strain on the colony
until the new governor, Sir William Phips, arrived in the colony in May of that year now the trails could
begin. The trials continued to spread and even led to a former minister being executed. By this time 20
people had been executed for crimes they were falsely accused of. Then some citizens of Salem began
to realize the illogical behavior and began to protest. However, it wasn’t until the governor himself took
action that the colony began to cease the witch hunt. Although the true causes of the witchcraft
hysteria may never be discovered, it will remain known as one of the best known blunders of early
American colonial history.

The author of this article presents the facts of the Salem Witch Trials with very little partiality.
Although one statement he makes is that does make the reader question the authors side on this topic
is “Modern people find it difficult to understand how such a seemingly rational group of people could
get swept into such an event.” This document is significant in the fact that it provides a clear depiction
of the events that occurred in Salem in 1692, and reminds the reader that we need to thoroughly
analyze our actions, and how they can lead to such devastation.

Through study and analysis of this article, I have been informed of how easily assumptions can
overtake our lives. It is unbelievable that the authorities in the early American colonies would allow such
scapegoating to occur. Most importantly, we should learn from our past mistakes and not allow history
to repeat itself in modern society. Although this may seem impossible in America today, this made me
ponder over the current situation of people of Arabic descent American Airports today, after 9/11.
Eric Bracewell Febuary 2, 2011 3rd Block
Salem Witch Trials

Loiselle, B. (2009). Salem Witch Trials. Salem Witch Trials, 1-2. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Lastly, “The authorities in those days firmly believed that witches existed.” This quote shows
how people will willingly jump onto a bandwagon, and goes along with an accusation no matter how
irrational it may be. “Very rarely were any of the accused found innocent during their trials.” This
informs the reader of how firmly the accusations of witches were set in the citizens of Salem minds.
“Since most of the accused refused to confess, and it was difficult to find people who witnessed the
accused meeting with Satan, the court was forced to rely heavily on spectral evidence.” This shows how
eager and hastily the courts were in completing the trials of Salem, and punishing those convicted.

http://proxygsu-sapp.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=khh&AN=17914394&site=ehost-live