Salem Witchcraft Trials
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Salem Witchcraft Trials
When did the Salem Witchcraft trials begin? Why did they begin? These are both very interesting questions. The first is quite simple to answer, however, the second is far more complex. This is because there are many different theories as to why the trials began. Is there one right answer for the question about why the trials began? I would have to say no. No one knows for sure exactly what started the Salem witchcraft trials, but I believe that the true answer is a combination of all circumstances in Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1692.
The Salem Witchcraft trials essentially began on January 20th of 1692. On this date Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams started to act very strangely and people believed that their behavior was the result of witchcraft. People felt this way because there seemed to be no reason for the girls behavior. They were presumably healthy young girls. After this date many other girls in Salem, Massachusetts began to also demonstrate the same strange behavior.
In the middle of February 1692 physicians that saw the ill girls were unable to come up with a medical reason for their behavior. At this time the doctors stated that they felt the girls were “under the influence of Satan” (www.salemweb.com). Toward the end of February there were many prayer services set up as a way to find the witches that many believed were behind all of the strange behavior.
Why were people so quick to believe that witches were behind the girls acting so strangely? There are many different theories to this question. Some people believe that the craze over the witchcraft began due to a conflict of people wanting industrialize over those who were attached to the farming economy. Others believed that the reason for the craze was simply boredom. There was not much for the people of Salem to do, and many believe that people were making up the witchcraft as a means of entertainment. Many people also believe that the cause was that there was so much fear and anxiety among the people due to the recent small pox outbreak, and fear of Indians attacking that they felt that the witchcraft was gods way of punishing them for all that they had done wrong.
The true meaning for the beginning of the witchcraft craze in Salem, Massachusetts is still not clear, and it probably never will be. I believe that it was a combination of all of the above reasons. I dont think that any one of these reasons alone would be enough to create such an event, but combined I feel that all of the reasons for the witchcraft trials could have great power.
Once the trials began there were seven steps that were used in Salem. These seven steps tell everything that was done from the moment that a person was accused of being a witch until the sheriff and his deputies carried out the death sentence. The first step was for the person who believed they knew who a witch was to make a complaint to the Magistrate. Often times the complaint was made through a third person. This was done as an attempt for the accuser to not be known to the witch.
The second step in the witchcraft trials was for the Magistrate to issue a warrant for the arrest of the person who was being accused of being a witch. Once the arrest warrant was issued the accused person was taken into custody where they were examined by at least two Magistrates. After listening to the accused persons testimony the Magistrates had to decide whether or not they thought the person was innocent of witchcraft or not. If the person was believed to be guilty the accused was sent to jail to wait for a trial. Step four was to present that case to the Grand Jury. All information relating to the witchcraft was given to the court as evidence. The fifth step was for the accused person to be indicted by the Grand Jury. The person accused of the witchcraft was tried in from of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. There was a jury present that would decide whether the person was guilty or innocent. Step six was for the accused to receive their sentence. Every person who was found to be guilty of witchcraft was sentenced to be hanged, with a specific date that the hanging would occur. The last step was for the sheriff and his deputies to carry out the sentence of hanging the witch. (www.law.umkc.edu).
Before a person was hanged they were served with a death warrant. This is an example of a death warrant that I found at www.law.umkc.edu.
To Goerge: Corwine Gentn High Sheriff of the county of Essex
Whereas Sarah Good Wife of William Good of Salem Village Rebecka Nurse wife of Francis Nurse of Salem Village Susanna Martin of Amesbury Widow Elizabeth How wife of James How of Ipswich Sarah Wild wife of John Wild of Topsfield all of the County of Essex in their
Majts Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Att A Court of Oyer & Terminer held by Adjournment for Our Severaign Lord & Lady Kind Wiliam & Queen Mary for the said County of Essex at Salem in the sd County onf the 29th day of June [torn] were Severaly arrigned on Several Indictments for the horrible Crime of Witchcraft by them practised & Committed On Severall persons and pleading not guilty did for their
Tryall put themselves on God & Thier Countrey whereupon they were Each of them found & brought in Guilty by the Jury that passed On them according to their respective Indictments and Sentence of death did then pass upon them as the Law directs Execution whereof yet remains to be done: Those are Therefore in their
Majties name William & Mary now King & Queen over England &ca: to will & Command you that upon Tuesday next being the 19th day for [torn] Instant July between the houres of Eight & [torn] in [torn] forenoon the same day you Safely conduct the sd Sarah Good Rebecka Nurse Susann Martin Elizabeth Howe & Sarah Wild From their
Majties goal in Salem aforesd to the place of Execution & there Cause them & Every of them to be hanged by the Neck until
they be dead and of the doings herein make return to the Clerke of the said Court & this precept and hereof you are not to fail at your perill and this Shall be your sufficient Warrant given under