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Salem Witch Trials. Jordin Bennett Mrs.Rivera Period 6 August 29, 2011. Where and When. 1692 June – September Salem, Massachusetts. Signs of Witchcraft. Hallucinations Violent Fits Crawling Sensation on their Skin Vomiting Choking Slurred Speech Trance-like States
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Salem Witch Trials Jordin Bennett Mrs.Rivera Period 6 August 29, 2011
Where and When • 1692 • June – September • Salem, Massachusetts
Signs of Witchcraft Hallucinations Violent Fits Crawling Sensation on their Skin Vomiting Choking Slurred Speech Trance-like States Now some scientists say a disease called “convulsive ergotism” which is caused by ergot could have caused these things to occur. Ergot is caused by a fungus that gets into kernels of rye grain in warm and damp conditions.
Ergot • Ergot would get into the rye crops. • “Convulsive ergotism” is caused by ingesting ergot infected rye. • They used ergot as • Cereal • Breads • Sometimes pastries
Showed Signs of Witchcraft • Betty Paris • Ann Putnam – 11 years old • Mercy Lewis – 17 years old • Mary Walcott • Elizabeth Hubbard • Susannah Sheldon • Mary Warren • Some say that Betty, Ann, Mercy, and Mary W. told each other’s fortunes. They would put the egg white in a cup of water and look for certain patterns in the swirling or pictures in the egg. • They were scared that they were messing with evil. • Not long after they started having the symptoms that they believed came along with witchcraft.
How Many? 19 Men and Women were convicted 100s of people faced accusations Dozens were in jail without trials for months
Accused of Witchcraft • Tituba • Sarah Good • Sarah Osborn • Martha Corey • Rebecca Nurse • Sarah Cloyce • Mary Easty • Dorcas Good – 4 years old • First child to be accused of witchcraft • She was arrested and sat in jail for 8 months • She watched her mother get carried off to the gallows • She would cry and go insane. • She later died in jail.
Consequences The 19 that were convicted were taken to Gallows Hill and were hanged. One 80-year-old man, Giles Corey, refused to go to trial for witchcraft trials was crushed to death under heavy rocks.
Witch or Not? • The accused was examined for • warts • moles • Other blemishes • These were signs that they were touched by the Devil • The accused neighbors were questioned. • Some were convicted on “spectral evidence”. • If the supposed victim can say that the “shape” of the accused appeared in their dream and then something bad happened to the “victim”, that person can take their case before the judge. • Saying that the accused put a curse on you.
Works Cited Linder, Douglas. "The Witchcraft Trials in Salem: A Commentary ." Famous American Trials. N.p., 09/2009. Web. 30 Aug 2011. <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ft rials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTM>. Kent, Deborah. How We Lived...In Colonial New England. Tarrytown, New York: Benchmark Books Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2000. 38-41. Print. "Ergot." Ergot of Rye - I: Introduction and History . N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sep 2011. <http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/bot135/ lect12.htm>. "Secrets of the Dead II" — Witches Curse." Ergot Poisoning - the cause of the Salem Witch Trials. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sep 2011. <http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/history/ergot.htm>.