Conflict in The Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials: A Corrupted Yet Significant Event

The Salem Witch Trials were a highly corrupted but significant event in history. These trials took place in a settlement called Salem, which was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at that time. In January of 1692, a group of young girls mysteriously became ill and started acting out in abnormal ways. This group of girls was later known as the "afflicted girls." The group consisted of Mary Wallace Scott, Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Parris. In February of 1692, the first accusation of the Salem Witch Trials occurred when Elizabeth Parris, who was among the afflicted girls, accused Sarah Good, Tituba, and Sarah Osborne of performing witchcraft. After these accusations, the three women were arrested and taken in for examination.

Confessions and Escalation

During the examination, a confession was made by Tituba that she, along with Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, had communicated with Satan and agreed to let him bind them as witches. This confession created chaos and caused the hunt for witches to become larger and more common. More than 200 people were later accused of being witches. Of the 200 accused, 19 were hanged. Those accused who survived were either pardoned, escaped jail, or were found not guilty (Brooks, 2011). The fear of the devil and his witch-binding was an example of scapegoating, which catalyzed the start of the Salem Witch Trials. The fear of the devil was very strong throughout Salem, Massachusetts. When Tituba confessed that she had spoken to the devil, this confession created complete hysteria and was the main reason the Salem Witch Trials occurred.

Political and Social Stressors

Tituba's confession was not the only factor that caused hysteria leading up to the Salem Witch Trials. When King Charles II revoked the Massachusetts Bay Colony's royal charter, it created extreme stress. This royal charter was revoked due to the violation of its rules by the colonists. Shortly after the death of Charles II, he was replaced by James II, who merged the Massachusetts Bay Colony into the Dominion of New England. The Dominion of New England was a royally appointed government with many strict laws. It was later overthrown in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution. In 1691, instead of renewing the Dominion of New England, Mary and William of Orange introduced a new, stronger, anti-religious charter. This new charter combined the Massachusetts Bay Colony with multiple other colonies. Despite being new, it still mimicked many of the Dominion's laws.

Additional Factors and Accusations

Smaller factors that also caused stress to the colonists were rivalries between families within the colony, a smallpox epidemic, and the fear of attacks from Native American tribes. These factors created a tense environment and made it easy to believe that the devil was responsible for all that occurred throughout Salem, Massachusetts. Due to the belief that Satan was present in Salem, when accusations that women were witches arose, they were easily believed. After Tituba's confession, and due to these social and political factors, the hysteria in Salem significantly increased the number of people accused of witchcraft in a short period. Rebecca Nurse, Dorothy Good, Rachel Clinton, and Martha Corey were the newest accused after Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good.

The Role of the Afflicted Girls and Trials

During the Salem Witch Trials, the afflicted girls were the main accusers. It was believed that, in acts of revenge, the parents of the afflicted girls would influence them to accuse people they disliked. By April, the number of accused people had grown significantly. As the number of accused grew, Governor William Phips set up a special type of court in English law to hear unique or serious cases. This court consisted of eight judges and was known as the Court of Oyer and Terminer. The talk of people being accused as witches grew, spreading to neighboring colonies, and people from those towns were brought to Salem and put on trial. Those accused were brought to trial and questioned by a judge. They then had to decide whether to plead guilty or not guilty.

Executions and Public Torture

These trials were held in the Salem Courthouse, located on Washington Street. Those accused of being witches or performing witchcraft were kept in a dungeon, as it was believed that if they were kept in a regular jail cell, their spirits could still escape and harm their victims. Bridget Bishop was once accused of witchcraft but was later cleared of the crime. However, she was accused again by the afflicted girls, leading to her being sentenced to death. On June 10, 1692, at Procter Ledge, Bridget Bishop was hanged, becoming the first victim of the Salem Witch Trials. The hanging of five more people followed her death. One of these victims was Rebecca Nurse, a highly respected woman. Her trial was significant because women accused were usually considered antisocial or unpopular. She was initially considered not guilty until one of the afflicted girls threw a bizarre fit, leading to her being found guilty.

The End of the Trials

Giles Corey was tortured and killed in public, another significant event in the Salem Witch Trials. On September 16, 1692, Corey had a large board and heavy rocks placed onto him, crushing him until he died three days later (Brooks, 2011). The trials and executions of the Salem Witch Trials were very cruel and harsh. The beginning of the end of the Salem Witch Trials occurred in September 1692. The last hanging took place on September 22, 1692, involving eight people. Following this, the Court of Oyer and Terminer was dismissed on October 29, 1692. After its dismissal, the Salem Witch Trials came to an end. During the trials, not many chores, farming, or business activities were done, leading to multiple issues throughout the colony.

Aftermath and Apologies

These issues included droughts, low amounts of food, and many diseases. Ashamed of what had occurred during the trials, the colony began to believe they were being punished by God for the murders of the innocent. A day of fasting and prayer occurred on January 15, 1697, in hopes of making amends with God. An apology was made in 1957 when the state of Massachusetts apologized for the events that had occurred. The final apology occurred on October 31, 2001, clearing the remaining names of those victims who were unnamed (Brooks, 2011).

References

Brooks, R. B. (2011). The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.