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The Crucible. The Author: Arthur Miller. The Historical Background. Puritanism Salem Witch Trials. Puritanism. Remember John Winthrop’s “City on a Hill”—a religious community in which “pure ideals” were central Believed in a strong connection between church and state (theocracy)
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The Historical Background Puritanism Salem Witch Trials
Puritanism • Remember John Winthrop’s “City on a Hill”—a religious community in which “pure ideals” were central • Believed in a strong connection between church and state (theocracy) • Believed in a Covenant with God and with each other to follow moral codes in pursuit of eternal life • Believed in Predestination (only the elect would be saved) • Believed God and Satan were active presences in the natural word
Puritanism … • Believed Native Americans were heathens and the woods and forests full of demons • Believed in mandatory attendance at church • Believed that people were expected to work hard and repress emotions and opinions • The church dictated that dark, somber dress was appropriate • Never get caught sleeping in church or stealing food What do these beliefs tell us?
Puritanism … • Read natural signs to see God’s will or Satan’s tricks (when a neighbor’s crop failed or a child became sick, saw it as God’s will and did not help) • Believed Satan selected the “weakest”—women, children and the insane to carry out his work. • Believed those who followed Satan were considered witches • Punished witchcraft by death What does this tell us?
Witch Trials in Europe As early as 1450, witch hunts all over Europe Many thousands were hanged, drowned or burned at the stake Women were viewed as “imperfect” as they were formed from a man’s rib whereas men were the privileged sex (Christ--a male) Popular view of women was source of witch hunt hysteria…seen as inherently evil and sexual—thus targets for the devil
Salem Witch Trials Possibly the single, most studied event in colonial American history Fear of magic and witchcraft was common in New England, as it had been in Europe Over 100 alleged witches had been tried and hanged in New England during the 1600s In early 1692, the witch hunt hysteria began in Salem
Salem Witch Trials … From early spring to September 1692, over 150 “witches” were taken into custody 19 men and women refused to confess and were hanged on Gallows Hill One man was pressed to death under stones Four died in jail
Key Points (Write ‘em down) • Author: Arthur Miller • Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials • Believed those who followed Satan were considered witches • Punished witchcraft by death • Over 100 alleged witches had been tried and hanged in New England during the 1600s
Key Points From early spring to September 1692, over 150 “witches” were taken into custody 19 men and women refused to confess and were hanged on Gallows Hill One man was pressed to death under stones Four died in jail
The Witch House The Witch House, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692.
What do we learn? Weak vs. Strong How did this happen? How can we stop this from happening? What’s my role in stopping these witch hunts?
