ok in your own words how would you explain the salem witchcraft trials
2007-09-12 16:20:49 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
http://usminc.org/salem.html
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http://usminc.org/burning.html
2007-09-13 09:54:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A group of sexually repressed Elders believed the inflammatory testimony of a sexually repressed teenager and executed a bunch of conveniently unpopular innocent people under the guise of Law.
A little Historical context: in that time, and in that Culture, coitus was a Duty, not a source of pleasure.There were no sources of pleasure. It was all about Duty to serve the Glory of God. No Fun Allowed.
Imagine being a spirited 13-year-old girl in that Culture. Imagine, also, that you had a Jamaican nanny, who told you tales of the Caribbean, and beguiled you with exotic Stories. Would you not swoon?
Imagine: you are bored out of your skull, frustrated, and want to stir things up. So you come up with this Witch thing (dancing naked under the Full Moon, praising Satan, etc.) just to get noticed. It works. You are a Celebrity. Kewl!
The Dads all of a sudden start listening , and listening very intently (bout time!). You are mad at, say, Becky down the street. You say "She is a Witch! I know because I am a Witch! You will not kill me because I can point the finger!"
Becky is then executed, in the most painful and humiliating manner possible, while you remain to point the finger at whomever you dislike next.
Nice gig, huh? No wonder finger-pointing remains popular.
2007-09-12 17:42:03 · answer #2 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
19 victims. one man stoned ( not in the way u think!! lol) an old woman, and it was a bunch of teenagers who needed their butts whipped and be taught a lesson. Tituba, a slave, was said to be practicing voodoo, in the forest,and a kid said it was devil- worship. The kids say that it was, go tell mom n dad,and the courts, and here we go with Salem. It is also said that no one was safe. Anyone could be accused, and be put to death.
2007-09-12 16:25:47 · answer #3 · answered by Dragonflygirl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A perfect example of the ineptitude and clumsiness of the legal system where the most intelligent men of a community formed a 'magistrate' and found people guilty of something which does not exist.
2007-09-12 16:26:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people were claiming others were witches to cast suspicion away from themselves. The trials stopped when they began going after rich and/or prominent villagers.
2007-09-12 16:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by hotdogseeksbun 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Apparently somebody pushed the moral panic button...
2007-09-12 16:27:21 · answer #6 · answered by Paradox 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋