The Salem Witch Trials, The World Behind The Hysteria

The Salem Witch Trials From the time of the 1690’s the entirety of Salem, Massachusetts were Puritans. â€Å"The Puritan lifestyle was restrained and rigid: People were expected to work hard and repress their emotions or opinions. Individual differences were frowned upon.† (Salem Witch Trials, The World Behind the Hysteria). These people believed that doing anything sinful would result in punishment from God. Just as much as they believed in God, they also believed in the Devil. Keeping up with the Puritan code, it led to the first women being accused of witchcraft. They were viewed as pariahs, and seen differently. Had the Puritan government let the afflicted defend themselves, not be so dependent on religion, not investigating the facts or scrutinize the trials the killing of many could have been prevented. The hangings from the trials would ultimately be the last in America. Church was the foundation of life in New England. People in Massachusetts were Puritans colonists seeking freedom an d religious acceptance by leaving England. The Puritan lifestyle was self-controlled and firmly enforced. Since Puritans were expected to live by a resistant code; they believed that all sins committed should be punished and that God would punish sinful behavior. When someone went against their codes, Puritans saw it as God’s will to not help them. In keeping up with the Puritan code of obedience, the many women to be accused of witchcraft in Salem were seen as divergent and socialShow MoreRelatedThe Salem Witch Trials Of 16921281 Words   |  6 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials were a sequence of hearings, prosecutions, and hangings of people who were thought to be involved in witchcraft in Massachusetts. These trials occurred between February 1692 and May 1693(The Salem Witch Trials, 1692. ). The Trials resulted in the execution of twenty people, in fact, most of them were women. The first of the trials began in several towns in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, such as Sal em Village (currently known as Danvers), Salem Town, Ipswich, and Andover(SalemRead MoreEnglish Creative Task : Holly Lowe, Microelectronics, Antibiotics, Laser Technology, The Smartphone And Nuclear Weapons1140 Words   |  5 Pagesespecially as students who are studying technology or science. However, they something that Salem would not have experienced close to 300 years ago. These prodigious inventions are as a result of our technological and scientific advancements throughout the past few centuries. It is fascinating to take a look back at history to realise the significant impression that these inventions or advancements have had on our world today. Through the steady introduction of all of these things, our society graduallyRead MoreReasons Behind The Salem Witch Trials1568 Words   |  7 PagesHistory 1301- Dr.Frawley April 30, 1017 Reasons behind the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 The Salem Witch Trials were a series of trials in the 1690s which accused society members of practicing witchcraft, they took place in Salem, Massachusets. What caused this mass hysteria to occur? Some contributing factors could include some socio-economic reasons, an overbearing Puritan society and the influential sense that witchcraft was taking place all over the world. Massachusetts was settled by English puritansRead MoreHysteria Comparison of the Salem Witch Trials and the Holocaust1222 Words   |  5 PagesAndria Garza 11/30/12 English Final Draft Hysteria comparison of the Salem Witch Trials and the Holocaust During both the devastating Holocaust in the Germany and the tragic Salem Witch Trials in the small town of Salem, innocent people were brutally killed, causing hysteria among the people. Both groups of people endured hardships because of the hysteria that occurred among them. This hysteria caused people to react in ways that they would not usually act. Both of these events are very historicalRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials891 Words   |  4 Pagesmurdered after trials found them guilty of acts of witchcraft. The series of hearings and prosecutions of the accused witches in colonial Massachusetts marks one of the nation s most notorious cases of mass hysteria. The reasons behind the trials and deaths are complex and multifaceted. Internal disputes, strict religious lifestyles, accusations from young children, witch hunting methods, spectral evidence, and even some medical theories all stand as causes of the Salem Witch Trials. Political, localRead MoreHow Does Fear and Hysteria Play a Significant Role in Creating and Driving the Conflict and the Chaotic Events That Take Place in Arthur Millers the Crucible?1450 Words   |  6 Pagesfear and hysteria play a significant role in creating and driving the conflict and the chaotic events that take place in Arthur Miller’s ‘ The Crucible’? Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined.1 It causes feelings of dread and apprehension. Fear can lead to hysteria- a condition where community wide fear overwhelms logic and ends up justifying its own existence. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, fear and hysteria are the foundationRead MoreSalem Witch Trials Essay1478 Words   |  6 Pages1692 marked a major event in history in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Witchcraft Trials still leaves this country with so many questions as to what happened in that small town. With all the documentation and accounts of the story, people are still wondering why 19 people died as a result of these trials. This paper will discuss the events leading up to the Salem Witch Trials and the events that took place during and after the trials, and the men and women who were killed or spent theRead MoreGender Roles, Stereotypes, And Expectations Essay1283 Words    |  6 Pagesdocuments from the Salem Witch Trials which took place in 1692. While the trials themselves are an important part of American history, the glimpse into that time period afforded by these surviving documents is invaluable. Gender roles and religious beliefs play a large role in the hysteria which spread across Puritan New England as it had in Europe for centuries before. Briefly the hysteria in around Salem occurred in January of 1692 when the daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris of Salem Village becameRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials were a prime part of American history during the early 17th century. During this time, religion was the prime focus and way of life within colonies. This was especially true for the Puritan way of life. Puritans first came to America in hopes of practicing Christianity their own way, to the purest form. The Puritans were fundamentalists who believed every word transcribed in the Bible by God was to be followed exactly for what it was. The idea of the devil controlling a womanRead MoreThe Red Scare And The Salem Witch Trials1226 Words   |  5 PagesWho can you trust in a world filled with enemies and those who are ambitiously self-centered? That is a question many people faced in the seventeenth century; similarly another time period had the same thought: The Red Scare. Th e Red Scare and the Salem Witch Trials were both tragic events that turned everyone against each other based on weak testimonies. Many respected people lost their lives because of this abnormal widespread fear. To make it more alarming, once accused it was extremely difficult