Salem Witch Trials
By: Danya Seklawi
To the extent of the economic standpoint in the trials that were placed in Salem, the people were prospered, and supported by the economic changes taking place. However, the people believed the worldliness and affluence of Salem town was threatened by their Puritan values. Therefore, the economic changes were a strong and influential force “Behind the witchcraft accusations” (Life in Salem 1692 HST Reading).
Additionally, the first three women that were assumed to be outsiders in the city of Salem can be who the anthropologists thought who fit the profile of the statements given. Tituba was one of the outsiders that was a slave in West India. Sarah Good was considered a beggar in the village for food, not only that, but a beggar for a need of place to live. Moreover, Gammer Osborne was an old woman that was sick. Let alone, in March, two of the three Salem witches were accused in that following month followed by church members and the wives of successful landowners. The assumptions continued and problems increased drastically.
Further, in April it was estimated about two dozens of people that were accused. Thus, the people accused “Included the wealthiest ship-owner in Salem and a minister of the gospel who was a Harvard graduate with a considerable estate in England” (Life in Salem 1692). By the quarter of May, warrants were issued to the few selected men, and by the end of the summer, even the high-class citizens of Salem were also accused for charges. The lawyer who set up the case against the accused noted by the end of May, "The afflicted spare no person of what quality so ever”(Life in Salem 1692 HST Reading). Just as the accusations were stabilized, the society grew out of bounds geographically. The accusations were spreading quickly around Salem. The first dozen of witches were either citizens or people from the outside group.
Moreover, they were one thirty-two adult citizens who testified the felony charges against the witches but only two of the villagers had lived in the east area of the village. Therefore, the accused witches were only opposed to the citizens who accused them of witchcraft. There were twenty-nine citizens who actually stood up and had a voice against the trials of the accused witches, but there were twenty-four citizens that lived in the eastern side of the village, which was the same side where the witches had lived, and only a couple of them living on the west. People that defended the witches were normally their neighbors. Those who claimed the accusations on them were not.
Furthermore, in 1689 the groups that were in independent in Salem Village managed to escape, and a church was created by the holy orders of Samuel Parris (thirty-six year old dealer). The victory was due to heavy damage for a new minister. Though, the church he represented was one group in the community that was led by the Putnams. Thus, the formation of the church did not perform its duties to unite Salem Village, but only created more intension in its segregation. The villagers, who established the church, including a wealthy group of residents who refused to join the church as well, drove Parris out of his position as a minister in Salem. The villagers were not willing to show devotion to the Village meetinghouse, thus attending somewhere else while holding down all their salary that came from their taxes. The money went for the pastor’s salary and firewood. In 1691, the yearly election at the Village was the most death-dealing situation. The village swept away the “five-man village Committee”(The Salem Witchcraft Controversy). Regarding, Parris’ friend dominated and elected a new committee made to a man known for his success.
Works Cited
Francis, Richard. Judge Sewall's Apology :The Salem Witch Trials and the Forming of the
American Conscience. 1st ed. New York: Fourth Estate, 2005. Print.
Hoffer, Peter Charles. The Salem Witchcraft Trials :A Legal History.Lawrence, Kan.:
University Press of Kansas, 1997. Print. Landmark Law Cases & American Society.
"HST 101 Reserve Reading." HST 101 Reserve Reading. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"Salem Witch Trials - 1692 Salem - Economic and Social Divisions - DiscoverySchool.com."
Salem Witch Trials - 1692 Salem - Economic and Social Divisions DiscoverySchool.com. N.p., n.d. Web.
09 Apr. 2014.
Additionally, the first three women that were assumed to be outsiders in the city of Salem can be who the anthropologists thought who fit the profile of the statements given. Tituba was one of the outsiders that was a slave in West India. Sarah Good was considered a beggar in the village for food, not only that, but a beggar for a need of place to live. Moreover, Gammer Osborne was an old woman that was sick. Let alone, in March, two of the three Salem witches were accused in that following month followed by church members and the wives of successful landowners. The assumptions continued and problems increased drastically.
Further, in April it was estimated about two dozens of people that were accused. Thus, the people accused “Included the wealthiest ship-owner in Salem and a minister of the gospel who was a Harvard graduate with a considerable estate in England” (Life in Salem 1692). By the quarter of May, warrants were issued to the few selected men, and by the end of the summer, even the high-class citizens of Salem were also accused for charges. The lawyer who set up the case against the accused noted by the end of May, "The afflicted spare no person of what quality so ever”(Life in Salem 1692 HST Reading). Just as the accusations were stabilized, the society grew out of bounds geographically. The accusations were spreading quickly around Salem. The first dozen of witches were either citizens or people from the outside group.
Moreover, they were one thirty-two adult citizens who testified the felony charges against the witches but only two of the villagers had lived in the east area of the village. Therefore, the accused witches were only opposed to the citizens who accused them of witchcraft. There were twenty-nine citizens who actually stood up and had a voice against the trials of the accused witches, but there were twenty-four citizens that lived in the eastern side of the village, which was the same side where the witches had lived, and only a couple of them living on the west. People that defended the witches were normally their neighbors. Those who claimed the accusations on them were not.
Furthermore, in 1689 the groups that were in independent in Salem Village managed to escape, and a church was created by the holy orders of Samuel Parris (thirty-six year old dealer). The victory was due to heavy damage for a new minister. Though, the church he represented was one group in the community that was led by the Putnams. Thus, the formation of the church did not perform its duties to unite Salem Village, but only created more intension in its segregation. The villagers, who established the church, including a wealthy group of residents who refused to join the church as well, drove Parris out of his position as a minister in Salem. The villagers were not willing to show devotion to the Village meetinghouse, thus attending somewhere else while holding down all their salary that came from their taxes. The money went for the pastor’s salary and firewood. In 1691, the yearly election at the Village was the most death-dealing situation. The village swept away the “five-man village Committee”(The Salem Witchcraft Controversy). Regarding, Parris’ friend dominated and elected a new committee made to a man known for his success.
Works Cited
Francis, Richard. Judge Sewall's Apology :The Salem Witch Trials and the Forming of the
American Conscience. 1st ed. New York: Fourth Estate, 2005. Print.
Hoffer, Peter Charles. The Salem Witchcraft Trials :A Legal History.Lawrence, Kan.:
University Press of Kansas, 1997. Print. Landmark Law Cases & American Society.
"HST 101 Reserve Reading." HST 101 Reserve Reading. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"Salem Witch Trials - 1692 Salem - Economic and Social Divisions - DiscoverySchool.com."
Salem Witch Trials - 1692 Salem - Economic and Social Divisions DiscoverySchool.com. N.p., n.d. Web.
09 Apr. 2014.