Early Puritanism and The Salem Witch Trials of 1692

1. Early Puritanism and The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 If it is written in yellow, it should be in your notes!

2. Who Were the Early Puritans? • “Puritan” is a word used to describe a number of Protestant groups of the 16th and 17th centuries. • They first arrived in America in 1620. • Puritans fled to the New World from England to avoid religious persecution. • Puritans believed in simple forms of worship and a humble way of life.

3. Early History • Only about 27 of the 100 people aboard the Mayflower were Puritans. • Puritans thought of themselves as soldiers in a war against Satan – the arch enemy who planned to ruin the kingdom of God on Earth. • They saw no hope of reforming a national church so they formed their own church.

4. The Puritan Legacy • Puritans contributed to the American character through their moral, ethical, and religious convictions. • Harvard College was established by the Puritan culture, one example of their great value of education. • They created the Mayflower Compact, upon which our Constitution is based.

5. Puritan Beliefs • God is everything, man is nothing • Religion and the teachings of the church are the center of all aspects of life • Puritans believed The Bible to be the supreme authority on earth • Nature and all that is in it is evil • Each individual is fated from birth to be among the saved (“the elect”) or the damned

6. Puritan Beliefs • Judgmental God (rewards good/punishes evil) • Predestination/Election (salvation or damnation was predetermined by God) • Original Sin (humans are innately sinful, tainted by the sins of Adam & Eve; good can be accomplished only through hard work & self-discipline)

7. Predestination • The Puritans believed that most of humanity was damned and that only a select number of people would gain eternal salvation (the “elect”). • Determining whether an individual was part of the “elect” was a difficult and uncertain endeavor. No one could be sure whether s/he was in God’s good graces, even with saintly behavior.

8. Am I One of the “Elect”? • Puritans examined themselves & their lives constantly looking for evidence of their election • Guilt & remorse were signs of God’s grace • Thrift, industry, hard work were viewed as signs of God’s grace • Business success was a sign of God’s grace

9. Puritan Government • Totally controlled by the church • Elections only by church members • Ministers main officers of civil government • Non-attendance resulted in loss of property and rights

10. Puritan Politics • The Puritans of the New World lived under a theocracy, or a system of government in which the church and state are closely linked and religious law is man’s law. • In such communities, the religious leader was also a civic leader, and the spiritual as well as social well-being of the community was the responsibility of the leader.

11. Sins • Adultery • Anything pleasant considered “of the devil” • Clothing • Playing • Dancing

12. Satan • Active enemy of mankind • Could bewitch certain people • Fallen from grace

13. Witches and Witchcraft • 17th and 18th century • Mankind considered inherently evil • Helpers to destroy the plans of God and the New World • Puritans and the New Canaan • New World stronghold of the devil • Salem, Massachusetts

14. Witchcraft at Work • Satan could assume various shapes or become invisible • Satan could enter a person’s body without that person knowing it. • Satan or an agent could assume the shape of an innocent person and torment someone else • Contracts with the devil • Confession

15. Puritan Women • Puritan women held little power or influence in their communities, particularly unmarried women. • Women were not allowed to own property. • While its actual practice was unusual, husbands were allowed to punish or publicly humiliate their wives for infractions such as insubordination.

16. Hysteria • What is hysteria? • People who are “hysterical” often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by events going on around them.

17. Hysteria • Strong belief that Satan is acting is acting in the world. • Disease, natural catastrophe, and bad fortune • A time of troubles making it seem like Salem was doomed. • War with Native Americans • Smallpox • Confessing “witches” adding credibility to earlier charges.

18. Journal Entry: January 27, 2014 • How do beliefs affect behavior? How do your beliefs affect the type of person you are? Or others? Do beliefs matter? Do they change a person? • This response should be at least a paragraph in length! • Extra Credit for sharing!

19. Double Entry Journal: Act I Explanation of Text Quote From Text 1. This quote is important to my understanding of this text because it let me know that witchcraft is going to be a central theme through the play. Because I know the importance of religion to Puritans, I can tell by this quote that witchcraft will be looked down on by the people of the town. 1. “Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think you’d best go down and deny it yourself. The parlor’s packed with people, sir.”

20. Reputation Journal EntryJanuary 28, 2014 • What does the word “reputation” mean? How can we determine someone’s reputation? How does this term apply to The Crucible so far? What do we know about the character’s reputations in The Crucible? • This response should be a paragraph! • Extra Credit for sharing!

21. Please use this time to complete your double entry journals! I will be checking these on Friday!

22. Salem Witch Trials Journal EntryJanuary 29, 2014 • What are your reactions to the Salem Witch Trials so far? Explain in at least a paragraph! • Extra credit for sharing!

23. “Half-Hanged Mary” • The lady named Mary that the poem refers to was Mary Webster, an accused witch in the 1680’s in a Puritan town. • She was hanged from a tree – where, according to one of the several surviving accounts, she was left all night. • She was cut down from the tree and was still alive.

24. Academic Vocabulary • 1. Tone: • 2. Diction: • 3. Mood: • 4. Imagery:

25. Stanza Questions • 1. Summarize your stanza in 1-3 sentences. • 2. Select several words that stand out—keep in mind that all words are chosen deliberately in a poem! What are the positive, negative, symbolic, etc. meanings associated with the words, and how do they serve the message of the stanza/poem? • 3. Are there any changes in tone or mood in your stanza? Why? • 4. What is the most powerful image in your stanza?

26. Hypocrisy Journal EntryJanuary 30, 2014 • What does the word “hypocrite” mean? How do you feel about people that are hypocrites? How could we view Reverend Parris as a hypocrite? • Response should be at least one paragraph!

27. How To Spot A Witch Non-Fiction Article • Your objectives: • 1. Summarize the entire article in 3-4 sentences. • 2. Paraphrase one sentence from the 4 main idea paragraphs highlighted in bold.

28. You’re Accused of Witchcraft! • You have several options on your next move! • You can: • 1. Flee Salem • 2. Accuse someone else • 3. Get pregnant • 4. Confess, even though you are innocent • 5. Please innocent and stand for trial • 6. Refuse to stand for trial and face the consequences

29. Flee Salem • Good idea, if you can swing it.  Several accused witches did escape from jail and survive the 1692 hysteria.  They included Philip and Mary English, John Alden, Hezekiah Usher, and Mrs. Nathaniel Cary.   However, all these accused persons had either money or influence that made their escape possible.  You don't have either.  Try your next option.

30. Accuse someone else • The theory here is that if you're afflicted by witchcraft, you can't be a witch yourself.  This theory even convinced some daughters to testify against their own mothers.  It's not a bad idea (if you have no conscience), but--sorry--it's too late now.  You should have thought of this idea a few days ago.  Now, your accusation will look like an obvious attempt to distract attention from your own guilt.  The accusation of witchcraft has been made against you and you're still going to have to deal with it.  Pick another option.

31. Get Pregnant • This isn't as silly an idea as it sounds.  Pregnant women, even if convicted of witchcraft, would not be executed so long as they remained pregnant.  The theory is that even if you deserve death, the baby inside you does not--so the officials will put off your execution.  This was called "reprieve for the belly." • Of course, you still might be executed eventually, but the hope is that the hysteria won't last another nine months. • One slight problem, however.  Who will you find in jail to impregnate you?  Sorry, this option is not available: Try another!

32. Confess, even though you are innocent • This route, pioneered by accused witches Tituba and Deliverance Hobbs, turned out to be a life saver.  Confessing witches weren't executed.  Instead, they were kept apart from other prisoners, to be called upon in trials when their testimony might be helpful to the prosecution.  The Puritans believed that once a person made a full confession, his or her fate should be left in God's hands, not man's.  Fifty-five persons in the Salem area confessed to witchcraft in 1692, adding substantial credibility to the initial charges of witchcraft made by the afflicted girls. • Do you really want to admit to being a witch?  Is this something you want on your resume?  If not, try another option..

33. Plead innocent • This is the approach that led to nineteen innocent persons being carted off to Gallows Hill during the summer of 1692.  If you plead innocent, you'll have to face trial without a lawyer and without the ability to call witnesses on your own behalf, answer unanswerable questions ("If you're not a witch, how do explain the fact that these afflicted girls fall into fits the minute you enter the room?")--all before a court that unanimously believes in witchcraft and believes that you're guilty.  (Even in the one case that the jury came back with an acquittal, the trial of Rebecca Nurse, the court sent the jury back to reconsider the verdict.  The second time around, the jury found Nurse guilty.) You'll face spectral evidence--and how do you propose to convince the court that your apparition was not doing all this work on the part of the Devil?  • This approach looks hopeless.  You better try another option.

34. Refuse to stand trial • Giles Corey gave this option a try.  Knowing the fate that awaited him if he stood for trial, Giles refused to answer the ritual question, "Will you be tried by your God and your country (that is, a jury)?"  The penalty for refusing to answer was piling heavy stones on your body until you either agree to stand trial or are crushed to death. • I don't think you want to go through with this.  Better try another option.

35. Journal Entry: Your thoughts on the punishment of witches • Did you agree with the methods I have just read to you? Do you think they were unfair? Why or why not? Now that you know the outcomes would you still pick the first option you chose? • Your response should be a paragraph!