The Salem Witch Trials
Introduction
The Salem Witch Trials started in the winter of 1692, in Salem Massachusetts, when
a group of young girls started acting strangely, and claimed that several women had
hurt them by witchcraft and caused them to act this way. Nowadays, no one would have
believed them, but back then the people of Salem had a strong belief of the devil,
witches, and witchcraft.
a group of young girls started acting strangely, and claimed that several women had
hurt them by witchcraft and caused them to act this way. Nowadays, no one would have
believed them, but back then the people of Salem had a strong belief of the devil,
witches, and witchcraft.In 1692, however, because of their beliefs, and probably because the adults
wanted someone to blame for the strange acts of the girls, a hunt began in
Salem to find the witches and punish them. But who were the witches?
They could be neighbors, friends, or even family members! Frightened
villagers panicked. Adults and children pointed fingers and cried out,
accusing each other of witchcraft.
Oh, what a horrible time it was, people not knowing who was a witch or not, and being
afraid that people think YOU are one of the witches. Over the next ten months, about
two hundred people were accused of being a witch. Most were women, and some were
even children! Almost all were put in jail. Some were hanged too. Innocent people were
accused of witchcraft and killed. It was terrible! For a while, it seemed like there would
be no end to this awful time. But eventually, the Salem witch trials stopped. So, what
was going on in Salem of 1692? Well, I am here to tell you.
afraid that people think YOU are one of the witches. Over the next ten months, about
two hundred people were accused of being a witch. Most were women, and some were
even children! Almost all were put in jail. Some were hanged too. Innocent people were
accused of witchcraft and killed. It was terrible! For a while, it seemed like there would
be no end to this awful time. But eventually, the Salem witch trials stopped. So, what
was going on in Salem of 1692? Well, I am here to tell you.
Witchcraft
In Salem Massachusetts, many people had a belief of witches, witchcraft, the devil, and
the devil’s book. You're probably wondering, “What is the devil’s book?!” Well, the
devil’s book was believed to be a book, of course, that the devil gives you to sign with
your own blood. If you sign it, you become a witch and harm others. If you do that, the
devil will give you special powers and did not hurt you. If you refuse to sign the book,
the devil threatens you, and keeps bugging you about it. Anyway, the people of Salem
believed in witchcraft so much that they even had special medicines and good luck
charms to cure witchcraft and the devil’s work. For instance, If there is a sudden death
of a baby, a sick cow, a house burning down, or crops dying, Puritans believed that this
was the devil’s work, and so they tried to attract good luck. They might nail a horseshoe
by the door, or spread bay leaves around the outside of their houses. Some people even
carried a piece of mountain ash, also known as witchwood, in their pockets to keep
witches away.
the devil’s book. You're probably wondering, “What is the devil’s book?!” Well, the
devil’s book was believed to be a book, of course, that the devil gives you to sign with
your own blood. If you sign it, you become a witch and harm others. If you do that, the
devil will give you special powers and did not hurt you. If you refuse to sign the book,
the devil threatens you, and keeps bugging you about it. Anyway, the people of Salem
believed in witchcraft so much that they even had special medicines and good luck
charms to cure witchcraft and the devil’s work. For instance, If there is a sudden death
of a baby, a sick cow, a house burning down, or crops dying, Puritans believed that this
was the devil’s work, and so they tried to attract good luck. They might nail a horseshoe
by the door, or spread bay leaves around the outside of their houses. Some people even
carried a piece of mountain ash, also known as witchwood, in their pockets to keep
witches away.
So, since the people of Salem had this VERY big belief of the devil and witchcraft,
they were willing to believe those girls…
they were willing to believe those girls…
The Unknown Illness
It was a freezing cold day in January 1692, when nine-year-old Betty Parris first
started acting weird, REALLY weird. She hid under chairs, flapped her arms and jerked
around, and she babbled wildly, saying words no one could understand. Other times, she
screamed or couldn’t speak at all.
started acting weird, REALLY weird. She hid under chairs, flapped her arms and jerked
around, and she babbled wildly, saying words no one could understand. Other times, she
screamed or couldn’t speak at all.
Her parents, Mrs. and Mr. Parris, were very worried about her. What had caused
this strange illness? Not knowing what else to call it, they said she was having “fits.”
Whatever was wrong with her, her cousin, 11 year old Abigail Williams, started acting
the same way. Betty and Abigail had been good, quiet girls. But now they screeched and
shivered. They felt dull pains and acted scared. This went on and on for weeks!
this strange illness? Not knowing what else to call it, they said she was having “fits.”
Whatever was wrong with her, her cousin, 11 year old Abigail Williams, started acting
the same way. Betty and Abigail had been good, quiet girls. But now they screeched and
shivered. They felt dull pains and acted scared. This went on and on for weeks!
Neither girl had a rash or fever, or smallpox, measles, or malaria. These were
common diseases that the New England colonies often died from. It was also strange
that Betty’s brother, sister, or parents didn’t catch the illness too.
common diseases that the New England colonies often died from. It was also strange
that Betty’s brother, sister, or parents didn’t catch the illness too.
Betty’s parents tried simple home remedies, like a dose of parsnip seeds, or castor
oil mixed with amber. They prayed for the girls to get better. Their neighbors prayed for
them, too. Nothing helped.
oil mixed with amber. They prayed for the girls to get better. Their neighbors prayed for
them, too. Nothing helped. 
Bewitched!
In late February, a doctor named William Griggs came to examine the girls. He did not
think they were sick. He thought they were “under and evil hand.” In other words, they
were bewitched! In 1692, that was not a strange thing for a doctor to determine.
think they were sick. He thought they were “under and evil hand.” In other words, they
were bewitched! In 1692, that was not a strange thing for a doctor to determine.
The day after the doctor came, Mr. and Mrs. Parris went to a meeting. They left the
children with Tituba, their slave. While Betty’s parents were gone, a neighbor named
Mary Sibley came to the Parris house. She gave Tituba a recipe. A recipe for something
called witch cake, that is. It was like a big biscuit, and was supposed to cure witchcraft.
children with Tituba, their slave. While Betty’s parents were gone, a neighbor named
Mary Sibley came to the Parris house. She gave Tituba a recipe. A recipe for something
called witch cake, that is. It was like a big biscuit, and was supposed to cure witchcraft.
The recipe was disgusting. It went like this:
Mix rye flour with some of the girls’ urine to make some sort of dough. Yuck! Then pat
to dough into cake shape, and then bake it in hot ashes of the fireplace, and feed it to a
dog. Poor dog!
to dough into cake shape, and then bake it in hot ashes of the fireplace, and feed it to a
dog. Poor dog!
While the dog ate the cake, the witch was supposed to feel every bite of its teeth.
She would come to the house and beg for the pain to stop. That way the witch could be
caught. Some people even thought a dog who had eaten the cake might bark out the
witches name!
She would come to the house and beg for the pain to stop. That way the witch could be
caught. Some people even thought a dog who had eaten the cake might bark out the
witches name!
Of course, the witch cake didn’t work. So now what?
The Trials Begin
After the witch cake, Betty and Abigail only got worse. They gasped for air as if they
were choking. Their bodies bent and twisted like they were puppets being controlled
on strings. They claimed that they could see ghostly figures, that no one else could see,
were hurting them, and that was why they were acting this way.
were choking. Their bodies bent and twisted like they were puppets being controlled
on strings. They claimed that they could see ghostly figures, that no one else could see,
were hurting them, and that was why they were acting this way.
As days went by, the girls finally came out with a name. Tituba! They said that her ghost was swooping around the room, although no one could see it, and poking and pinching them! Tituba had taken care of Betty and Abigail, as well as their older brother and younger sister. Would she really want to hurt them after how nice she had been to them? No one asked Betty and Abigail that. They probably just thought the devil made her do it.
The girls also named two other women, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn! Not many
people liked Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne that much, so the girls most likely
thought no one would stand up for the women. Soon, other girls in Salem started
reporting witch encounters. A twelve-year old girl named Ann Putnam was one
of them (pictured at right). Ann claimed that the witch was Sarah Good. Another
girl, Elizabeth Hubbard claimed that Sarah Good was a witch too, and said that
she had sent a wolf to chase her!
people liked Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne that much, so the girls most likely
thought no one would stand up for the women. Soon, other girls in Salem started
reporting witch encounters. A twelve-year old girl named Ann Putnam was one
of them (pictured at right). Ann claimed that the witch was Sarah Good. Another
girl, Elizabeth Hubbard claimed that Sarah Good was a witch too, and said that
she had sent a wolf to chase her!
On February 29 Ann Putnam’s father and three other men filed a complaint against
Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne for witchcraft. The next morning, Salem town
officials took all three women to a tavern because there was no courthouse. They took
them in there and questioned them. The questions they asked showed that they already
suspected the women women of being witches. The four girl accusers acted like they
were being tortured by the “specter” of the women while the officials were questioning
the suspects.
Soon, more and more girls started accusing more people, and the judges started putting
the suspects in prison and hanging some of them too!
the suspects in prison and hanging some of them too!
Now, more than 200 people were accused of using witchcraft. Sixteen women and three
men were hanged for witchcraft, one man was “pressed” to death, and others died in
prison, including a baby! And a four-year-old girl later became mentally ill.
men were hanged for witchcraft, one man was “pressed” to death, and others died in
prison, including a baby! And a four-year-old girl later became mentally ill.
Overall, the trials were all unfair, and from pressure, 50 lied and confessed that they
were witches. No one really knows why, but some suspect that the girls really didn’t
believe that all these people were witches, but were too afraid that they might get in
trouble themselves.
were witches. No one really knows why, but some suspect that the girls really didn’t
believe that all these people were witches, but were too afraid that they might get in
trouble themselves.
The End Of The Trials
After the trials, almost all the people of Salem were ashamed and sorry for the fate of
the victims. Other people, however, did not feel guilty. For instance, Judge Stoughton
and one of the girl accusers, Mercy Lewis. But besides them, all the other town’s people
felt guilty and sad. In January 1697, the Massachusetts Bay Colony held an official day
of prayer and fasting to ask for forgiveness for their unfair actions, especially in the
trials.
the victims. Other people, however, did not feel guilty. For instance, Judge Stoughton
and one of the girl accusers, Mercy Lewis. But besides them, all the other town’s people
felt guilty and sad. In January 1697, the Massachusetts Bay Colony held an official day
of prayer and fasting to ask for forgiveness for their unfair actions, especially in the
trials.
Conclusion
We’re still reading about and studying the Salem Witch Trials today so we can learn
about how beliefs affect people’s actions so much. We can look back and see how tragic
that was. Today, our trial and jury system is much more fare. We have lawyers who can
back us up. Not many people now believe in witches, specters and magic, so trials will
be more fair.
about how beliefs affect people’s actions so much. We can look back and see how tragic
that was. Today, our trial and jury system is much more fare. We have lawyers who can
back us up. Not many people now believe in witches, specters and magic, so trials will
be more fair.
Credits And Pictures
Resources:
Salem Witch Trials article
“What Were The Salem Witch Trials?” book
Puritans book
Pictures:
A man being pressed by stones
In order to make him confess of witchcraft
Trials
The Witch House
A witch suspect being questioned
Martha Corey, a witch suspect, trying to prove her innocence
The Hanging of a “witch”
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