Salem Witch Trials: Environment in Salem?

Question

I`m doing an essay on the Salem Witch Trials and I was wondering if anyone knew about the environment in Salem. What it was like to live in that time and place and also the physical challenges that they faced. If anyone can help me, that you be appreciated. Thank you.

I`m doing an essay on the Salem Witch Trials and I was wondering if anyone knew about the environment in Salem. What it was like to live in that time and place and also the physical challenges that they faced. If anyone can help me, that you be appreciated. Thank you.

Also, does anyone know the difference between Salem Town and Salem Village? I'm reading this article and it talks about Salem Town and Salem Village.

Answer 1

Get a copy of "Entertaining Satan" by John Putnam Demos if you can - check your library. It examines the culture of New England as well as the topic of witchcraft, and how the two directly correlated.

Life was extremely hard, and in Salem, they were Puritans by faith. They were determined to be a model society (that their religion was the right way to live), which added extra pressure beyond the already harsh cruelties of living in an undeveloped area. They had to live off the land, try to keep the peace with the native Americans, and adjust to the harsh climate. Their community was very small and close-knit, and everyone was under close scrutiny. Part of their faith was also believing that if something bad happened, that it was a direct punishment from God. Scientific knowledge was not what it is today, and things like illness, failing crops, disputes, etc. were all seen as the work of evil.

Answer 2

The Salem witch trials should not be too exclusively placed in a particular time and place of history in order to appreciate their significance or meaning. History is a wheel, turning constantly. We, collectively as humans, have failed to learn the lessons of history which the philosopher, Santayana has said we are doomed, for this reason to repeat those mistakes. The Salem witch trials was an attempt on one hand to rid the practice of witchcraft from the practice of Christianity. The McCarthy 'witch trials' of the early 50's of the last century were to rid the practice of Communism in the so-called 'American way of life'. Future generations may well have similiar feelings about the Patriot Act. It all amounts to an attempt to cleanse ideals and beliefs that some have considered to have been corrupted. It reflects, if you like traditional practice of medicine up to the early 20th, century : Letting the blood from from the body is the way you heal a sick person. However, despite the high minded ideals this thinking appeals to - it is still still barbarism and that's the lesson we have forgotten.

Answer 3

we've not any thought - interior the "crucible" which replaced into in line with it, yet not actual authentic, she ran away and became a prostitute. here is the situation referenced in "Echoes Down the hall" it extremely is on the top of The Crucible, by potential of Arthur Miller) it says that "The legend has it that Abigail became up later as a prostitute in Boston." besides the undeniable fact that, given using the be conscious "legend," it somewhat is presumed the accusation is maximum probable fake. The final declare states Abigail died from a easy Sexually transmitted ailment in colonial Massachusetts for the time of that factor era. in spite of the actuality that there's no confident information of what surpassed off to Williams after the pains ended, one reference stated she "curiously died till now the top of 1697, if not faster, no older than seventeen." i don't think of you additionally could make a 5 website paper out of that, you will extra advantageous detect a various situation.

Answer 4

Salem was a very tight knit community in the late 1600's. The community thrived on farming and fishing. It was still very much a Puritan community, and that meant strict adherence to social and religious codes. Puritans were in fact very passionate people who lived their lives as fully as they could. They often wore colorful clothes, danced, and even drank "strong waters" on occasion. They felt that sex was a blessing from God to be enjoyed to the fullest, though within the confines of marriage. They had large families. What Puritans opposed was anything that wasted time or resources. For example they felt gambling and card playing were sinful, not because they were inherently evil but because they wasted time.
The environment, meaning the natural environemtn, was both like and unlike what the colonists were used to in their native England. In the spring and summer life was preoccupied with planting, hunting, educating the young to the various duties of home and community. Fall was harvest time, and all the farming families would help each other to gather in the crops that were planted. Schooling was very informal during the fall for this reason. The winters were colder and very snowy. During the winter life was centered in the home. Families spent a lot of time making clothing, candles, and doing repairs to tools used for farming. They entertained in their homes, and had many "social" evenings for the adults. The challenges faced by te community were always the same. Growing used to the differences in climate, trial and error as to what crops thrived and learning the lay of the land with an eye to the expansion of their community. In those days communities were pretty isolated form one another. Not by distance, but more by social convention. Their community was their life. While they did go to other towns for trade, etc, they were not overtly concerned with the day to day happenings anywhere other than their own town. The ordinary stresses of 17th-century life in Massachusetts Bay Colony, a strong belief in the devil, factions among Salem Village fanatics and rivalry with nearby Salem Town, a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of attack by warring tribes created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion.
In the time of the witch trials, an otherwise trusting and forgiving community became ruled by hysteria. Witchcraft, tot eh Puritans, was the ultimate evil, and nothing was too extreme to rid themselves of the taint of it. The tight-knit community was at a loss to explain the convulsive seizures, blasphemous screaming, and trance-like states that afflicted the youngsters. The physicians called in to examine the girls could find no natural cause of the disturbing behavior. If the source of the affliction
was not attributable to a physical malady, the community reasoned that it must be the work of Satan. Witches had invaded Salem.
In February of 1692 the first accusation of witchcraft was made, and in March the first arrests were carried out. In October, the colonial governor dissolved the local Court of inquiry. The convictions and condemnations for witchery stopped. Nineteen victims of the witch-hunt had been hanged, one crushed to death under the weight of stones and at least four died in prison awaiting trial. All those who had been accused of witchcraft were pardoned. Those who were still in prison had to pay for the food they ate while in jail, otherwise they would have to remain there. Many people lost everything they owned.
After this, Salem was not the same. What was once a close community had suffered the ultimate evil and was never the same again. As years passed, apologies were offered, and restitution was made to the victims' families.
A period of atonement began in the colony following the release of the surviving accused witches. Samuel Sewall, one of the judges, issued a public confession of guilt and an apology. Several jurors came forward to say that they were "sadly deluded and mistaken" in their judgments. Reverend Samuel Parris conceded errors of judgment, but mostly shifted blame to others. Parris was replaced as minister of Salem village by Thomas Green, who devoted his career to putting his torn congregation back together. Governor Phips blamed the entire affair on William Stoughton. Stoughton, clearly more to blame than anyone for the tragic episode, refused to apologize or explain himself. He criticized Phips for interfering just when he was about to "clear the land" of witches. Stoughton became the next governor of Massachusetts.

Answer 5

Well no one was safe there were around six girls who could simply point you out and say you were a witch or wizard. Also if you confessed to being a witch they kept you alive because they (Putnam and his jolly gang) need something to fund their campaign with other than just a pile of bodies.

Answer 6

it was the same for alot of places in that time
hard work yr round no modern convinces ie running water,lights,groc stores,

and yes ppl had to be very careful
think about this ppl back that did not have doctors like we do now
and alot of ppl learned from the natives about healing
when the ppl from England came over and saw that ppl did not follow the "rules" they were thought to be witches

that's right just because ppl learned how to take care of themselves and others using natural things found in the "new world" THEY WERE WITCHES
wow just sit back and try to picture your mother who helped alot of ppl be taken away because she tried her best to help someone and they still died or got sicker
it sucks huh
that's what it was like back then