The Salem Witch Trials

1. The Salem Witch Trials Dylan Discher Mrs. Martin’s 2nd Period 10-13-11

2. What's a witch ? • Witch- somebody with magic powers: somebody, especially a woman, who is supposed to have magical or wonder-working powers that are most often used to cause harm Picture1 http://familycrafts.about.com/od/halloweencoloringpages/ss/Witch-Hat-Coloring-Page.htm Picture2 http://tradingphrases.com/witch-moon-halloween-decals.html

3. Why did the witch trials happen ? The puritans being extremely religious & superstitious had not attempted to find a scientific explanation for the symptoms of the girls that were bewitched. So they blamed people.

4. Titbua • No one knows anything about her before witch trials and after she was released and sold • Her main job (as a servant) was to care for the Parris children while there parents where away. • She liked to entertain the children with stories of magic, fort ion telling, and spirits. • The children began to act strangely under her care behaving strangely, this lead to Mr. Parris to feel suspicious. • Titbua was beaten by Mr. Parris until she confessed to being a witch then imprisoned.

5. Ann Putnam • Born in Salem Massachusetts, Died 1706 • Listened to Tibua's stories in secrete and eventually broke out into fits. • She made the most and the wildest accusations this made her the ring leader of the girls that have been bewitched. • She was used to identify witches during the trials. • Unlike outher accusers she apologized for her behiver

6. Sarah Good • Excited July 19th, 1692 • She hade many failed marriages leaving her and her last husband to beg for food and shelter. • She mumbled angrily when people denied to help, this lead people to believe they were curses on them or their livestock. • Her daughter confessed to being a witch to be with her in prison. • Before she was excited she said to minister Noyles“you are a liar I am no more a witch than you a wizard , if you take my life god will give you blood to drink.’’ (he died many years later from internal bleeding).

7. Giles Cory • Excicuted September 19, 1692 (first person to ever be pressed to death in Salem). • He was a wealthy farmer member of church, and always involved in lawsuits. • He was accused (with his wife)stayed in prison for mouths before finally getting a trial. • He refused to plead guilty or innocent. the reason for this was because no one was on his side. That lead him to his punishment, pressed to death

8. Samuel Sewall • Born 1652 Hampshire England, Died Boston 1730 • He was a judge for the trials (interrogator). • After the trials he wrote a confession out of guilt because of the trials. • He set aside one day each year to honor dead and pray for forgiveness. He was the only judge to publically express regret for his role in the trials.

9. Conclusion I thing that the trials were an unnecessary event in our history. It’s a shame that it happened. If I was accused of practicing witchcraft I would attempt to leave town if possible. I wouldn't want to be caught up in all that mess! ttp://www.mattsmetalworks.com/holiday.htm

10. Works Cited Orr Tamara. The Salem witch trials. San Diego, CA: Blackberchpress, 2004.