Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

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In July 1692, what was supposed to be a beautiful summer for most Puritans in Salem Village, Massachusetts, soon turned dark as many were scheduled to hang for witchcraft. Earlier in the year, several young girls claimed that over 200 individuals were practicing witchcraft. The girls were genuinely afflicted, not by ergot, but by witchcraft. In Puritan belief, Satan cannot take the place or possession of any unwilling person. If a person saw the spirit of the accused, it confirmed that they were a witch. The girls had reported that invisible agents and forces were afflicting them. Witchcraft was the motive for the actions that were presented. This was seen with the people in the town, including the ministers, whether formal or in their current …show more content…
The supporting reason for the Salem Witch Trial girls being genuinely afflicted by witchcraft is due to the girls being in the woods to begin with, and the reason for Parris’s presence. During this time things such as the “heathen forest, dark night, the moon, young girls, nakedness, dancing, and spirits all relate to witchcraft” (“THE SALEM”). Furthermore, if these acts were viewed as wicked during this time. What was their reason for partaking in such acts if they were not witches or practicing witchcraft? Throughout the trials, Reverend Parris expressed his concern for his daughter and niece, along with other girls dancing within the forest. However, would he be just as guilty as the girls for walking into the forest? Reverend Parris did not want to ruin his reputation but still stated “that my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathens in the forest” (Kinsella et al. 1262). The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid afor This act was highly condemned by the Puritans because they believed that the forest was “the devil’s home” …show more content…
In conclusion, it has been proven that the reason behind the trials in Salem Village, Massachusetts, was due to witchcraft being the motive. With all the information stated, the ones to blame were the people in their town, including the ministers whether formal or in the current position, practicing and preaching the devil’s work using the forest, allegedly “the devil’s home,” to dance and perform rituals (Weller). During the time of the trials, the things that related to witchcraft were the “heathen forest, nights, the moon, young girls, being nude, dancing, and spirits” (“THE SALEM”). When researching we found that poppets are known throughout history as a sign of witchcraft, and different women were accused and put through a trial for the use of one. Samuel Parris was known for preaching the devil’s work, along with George Burroughs, both of these men were ministers in the town. Tituba, Samuel Parris’ slave, admitted to being a witch and under the power of the devil. With the reasons we presented, the main connection between them would be the practices they did which concluded it was
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