The Impact Of The Salem Witch Trials - 2018 Words

The Salem Witch Hunt Introduction The Salem Witch Trials is a term that is used to refer to a series of different witchcraft cases that were taken to the local magistrates of a region known as Salem that happened to be considered as a part of the Massachusetts Bay colony in the 17th Century (Roach and Rosenthal 925). Additionally, it is important to note that the Salem Witch Trials have been considered to be amongst some of the darkest periods in the American trial history. The reason why the trails were considered to be amongst the worst trials in the American history is brought out by the fact that over two hundred individuals were taken to court and collectively accused as witches (Baker 34). The end of the trials saw a total of†¦show more content†¦It is important to note that in the 17th century, people from Massachusetts were exposed to a kind of fear that was linked to the Devil and being constantly portrayed as always finding for all possible ways to infiltrate and interfere with Christianity in the American society (Clark and Aronson 401). In connection to this, it is important to understand that the Salem community was one of the strongly religious communities living that lived in near isolation and to some extent, in its own New World where the sense of fearing the devil had been made a part of the society. The fear that the community living in this area had was triggered when Tituba, one of the accused witches went on to confess that she was working for the devil (Martin and Bascle 70). The confession that was made led to the development of hysteria and panic in the region making the region to devote their efforts to a massive witch hunt. In this, it is important to note that despite there being some contributing factors in the witch hunt, the confession that was made by Tituba is always considered to be the main reason why the Salem Witch Trial came to being. During the trial period, the Massachusetts Bay colonists had initially engaged in the process of convicting individ uals for engaging in witchcraft for some time with one of the conviction that he made is that of Margaret Jones, that took place in 1648Show MoreRelatedThe Impact Of The Salem Witch Trials1263 Words   |  6 PagesThe myths surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 spike the interest of historians and non-academics alike. These trials have been the concern of different historical articles, novels, plays, films, and even religious debates. One issue that is certain, is the hysteria of the community overwhelmed Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and 1693. A particular primary source, â€Å"Accounts of the Salem Witchcraft Trials (1693)† by Cotton Mather, suggests that the actions brought forth provided proof of satanicRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials And Its Impact On American Society1881 Words   |  8 PagesDid you know that the Salem witch trials resulted in the execution of only twenty people? Most people believe that hundreds of people were executed during the Salem witch tria ls, which is often a very common thought but in actuality only twenty people (mostly women) were executed. The Salem witch trials was a huge part of American history, they are important to remember because they are probably a crucial turning point for America, because before the trials religion and superstition were very importantRead MoreIs Witch Trails A Thing Of The Past?923 Words   |  4 Pages Being that the Salem Witch Trails date back to over three hundred years, many people believe witch trails are a thing of the past. However, modern day witch trails are still extremely prevalent. Modern-day witch-hunts are reported to still be happening in Africa, the Pacific, Latin America, even in the U.S. and Europe. According to a New York Times article, within the last fifteen years alone, more than 2,000 Indians have been killed after being accused of witchcraft. Almost all of the accused haveRead MoreSalem Witch Trials : A Public Choice Perspective843 Words   |  4 PagesThe Sal em witch trials are a memorable period in time that had a huge impact on American society. Many people are still questioning this historical event and what lead to the people of Salem developing that particular mentality. Benjamin Ray’s, â€Å"Salem witch trials† grants primary source historical documents to support the allegations of the witch trials in that period. On the other hand, Franklin and Len’s â€Å"The allocation of death in the Salem witch trials: A public choice perspective† focuses primarilyRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials1635 Words   |  7 Pagesovercome was the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials occurred in 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. â€Å"More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft – the Devil’s magic – and 20 were executed† as detailed by Jess Blumberg on the web article A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials (Blumberg 2007). The trials had a major impact on the American society and the effects could be seen in colonial America as well as today. Why did the injustice of the Salam Witch Trials occur and whyRead MoreSalem Witch Trials1478 Words   |  6 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a series of trials in which twenty-four people were killed after being accused of practicing witchcraft. These trials were caused by different social climates of the area including the very strong lack of a governor, the split between Salem Village and Salem Town, and the strict puritan lifestyle during the time period. Tituba, the black slave, was a foreigner from Barbados. Her role in society was to take care of Mr. Parris’s family. Tituba’s situation contributedRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism666 Words   |  3 Pagesthe Salem witch trials and red scare, are often overlooked. These events symbolize times of despair, weakness, and slander, to which the essence of the events is nearly identical. The Salem witch trials can be closely compared to McCarthyism and the red scare, based on the similarities of suspicion, accusation, and prosecution. Despite the difference of roughly two hundred and sixty years, the outcome of such uprisings has remained unchanged. The morals discovered during the Salem witch trials failedRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1349 Words   |  6 PagesBefore 1692, the supernatural was a part of people’s everyday normal life. This is so as people strongly believed that Satan was present and active on earth. Men and women in Salem Village believed that all the misfortunes that befell them were the work of the devil. For example, when things like infant death, crop failures or friction among the congregation occurred, people were quick to blame the supernatural. This concept first emerged in Europe around the fifteenth century and then spread toRead MoreEssay on Did Religion Impact American History?561 Words   |  3 Pagescountries across the world. Many historians believe America was formed on the basis of religion. In this research paper, I will illustrate the impact religion had on American History to 1877. Specifically, it will examine: 1) Major events impacting traditional religious beliefs in America, 2) Religious disputes which impacted land development, and 3) The impact religion had on slavery. Religion is closely tied to events like the Protestant Reformation and other religious movements. The ProtestantRead MoreThe Mccarthy Hearings Vs The Salem Witch Trials Essay1011 Words   |  5 PagesHearings vs The Salem Witch Trials The McCarthy Hearings and the Salem Witch Trials both transformed the thought process of Americans today. Despite being described as completely unique and distinguished events, they both are eerily similar in appearance. The Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism are both described as witch hunts with several similarities in the way the inspired fear but they have several differences in the motivation and the end of each event. The Salem Witch Trials is know for its