Lecture Notes: The Salem Witch Trials

Introduction

• Focus on Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, daughters of Reverend Parris.
• Life in 17th century Salem was strict, emphasizing chores and Bible verses over games and toys.

Activities of Betty, Abigail, and Other Girls

• Secret meetings with Tituba, a Caribbean slave, for entertainment.
  • Activities included magic, fortune-telling, and stories from Barbados.
  • Such activities were forbidden by the Puritans.

Onset of Strange Behaviors (January)

• Betty and Abigail began to display strange behaviors (screaming, pushing, rolling on the floor).
• Doctor diagnosed them as victims of witchcraft.

First Public Incident

• Last Sunday in January: Betty Parris screamed during her father's Sunday sermon.
• Other girls joined in with bizarre behaviors.
• Townspeople became frightened and demanded the names of their tormentors.

Accusations Begin

• Under pressure, the girls accused three women: Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne.
  • All were social outcasts.
• Tituba confessed (possibly after being beaten) and claimed more witches were present in Salem.

Rise of Witchcraft Panic

• Accusations spread to other townspeople.
• Notable accused included:
  • Rebecca Nurse, a respected grandmother
  • John Proctor, a wealthy farmer
  • Dorcas Good, a four-year-old child
• Over 150 people jailed by spring, including prominent figures.

Salem Witch Trials Begin

• Trials began on June 2, 1692.
• Bridget Bishop became the first to be hanged.
• 19 more executions followed, including respected individuals like George Burrows.
• Giles Corey was pressed to death.

Public Opinion Shifts

• Accusations continued until October, targeting even high-profile citizens like the governor's wife.
• Doubt spread about the legitimacy of the girls’ claims.
• Increase Mather, a Boston minister, advocated against the trials.
  • Stated it was better for ten witches to escape than for one innocent person to be condemned.

End of the Witch Trials

• Governor Phips halted the witch trials, executions, and pardoned those imprisoned.

Aftermath

• Many returned to daily life; judges pursued successful careers.
• Most accused suffered lifelong poverty and tarnished reputations.
• Only Ann Putnam publicly acknowledged her role, attributing actions to Satan's delusion.

Conclusion

• The Salem Witch Trials remain a significant historical event, illustrating the dangers of mass hysteria and wrongful accusations.