Salem Witch Trials

They were rough and spartan but not bad. The only theory that the living conditions would affect is the Ergot poisoning theory. The afflicted would have ingested the Ergot fungus along with the wheat or rye from the previous harvest after a long enough time for the fungus to really grow. If the ergot really is the culprit and the living conditions allotted for better storage or fresher food, the witch panic may not have happened.

The McCarthy Witch trials are actually considered McCarthyism. This is the practice of accusing individuals of disloyalty, treason and subversion without any factual evidence. This originates from a period in the U.S known as the Second Red Scare, from the 1940's and 1950's.

Its a contest between two.

The trial of Rebbecca Nurse in which she was aqquitted, people repealed the verdict and was then proclaimed guilty. She was one of the accused who had a lot of doubt surrounding her case.

The other would be the Reverand George Burroughs because he was a Puritan reverand that had worked in Salem Village and had been able to recite the Lord's Prayer, something witches supposedly couldn't do.

I'm going to assume you mean Salem, Massachusetts 1692.

Samuel Parris was in charge of the church in Salem Village. Nicholas Noyes lead the main church in Salem. I'm not sure if they'd be classified as "pastors," but religious terminology is not my strong suit.

That she is green and covered in warts? LOL I am kidding. As a witch myself I can tell you that the majority of us do not go around advertising our spiritual beliefs. There is little to no chance of any of us even mentioning it in a personals ad as it is on a need to know basis. Aside for that, we would avoid mentioning the usual things people would avoid mentioning as we are just regular people like everyone else.

Cotton Mather was a renowned and respected young minister who had already successfully dealt with a witchcraft case in Boston, where he worked. With his father, Increase, in England, Cotton Mather was the most influencial minister in New England and the most famous pre-revolution Boston minister.

Pagan is a general term while Wicca applies specifically to those belief structures that are descended or adapted from Gardnerian Wicca, which was founded by Gerald Gardner in the mid 1900s. Gardnerian Wicca is the first formal, Wiccan tradition that was known about publicly through media interviews and the publication of books by the members, with Gardner being the first to publish. There are other and newer traditions of Wicca that claim different, or even no, lineage at all.

Think of it this way, Paganism is a tree of which Wicca is a branch; in much the same way that Christianity is a tree of which Lutheran is a branch.

But it is not always just to label a Wiccan as a Pagan...

Though it is controversial in both the Pagan and mainstream religious communities, some people believe that Christian, Jewish, Muslim beliefs can be melded with Wicca to create Christian Wicca, Jewish Wicca, less often Muslim Wicca, so it is even unfair to say that all Wiccans are pagans, some believe themselves to be very much Christian, etc and would be upset to be identified as Pagan.

While this is controversial, it's not a new controversy, through the Middle Ages, many learned men (John Dee for one) pursued magic and alchemy and worked with calling angels and demons though they considered themselves to be very much Christian. The tradition of mysticism in even mainstream religions is a very old one that continues today.

-----

I have often explained it this way to my students and others who ask: Wicca is to Paganism as Catholicism is to Christianity... A sub-section of a larger belief system. Not necessarily the largest, or the one with the most followers, but the most recognisable to the outside world. And in my experience the ones with the most rules.

Approximately 50. When they confessed they were not given the death penalty because their souls were said to be in God's hands. The first to confess was Tituba, Reverend Parris' slave.

they were almost exclusively innocent people who were accused for ulterior reasons. There was a preacher named Cotton Mather who was enthusiastic about the Salem witch trials. If a person were accused, Mather would have her thrown into a body of water. If she drowned, he said that meant she was indeed a witch. If she did not drown, he said that was evidence that she was a witch since few women could swim at that time.

It was not caused by an event like a death or ships sinking. It was caused by a currently unidentified affliction that was then diagnosed a witchcraft.

In the aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1639, various public reactions to the events followed. Authorities wrote condemnations or otherwise provided commentary on mistakes made in the trials; a Massachusetts court decreed a day of remembrance for the victims in 1696; public apologies were made by some of those who had participated; whole essays and even books were inspired by the events. Additionally, extended family (and supporters) of some of those put to death acted to clear their records, erect memorials, and otherwise return honor that had been unjustly taken away from them.

No, none of them were killed. One of the girls eventually confessed that they all were just lying and that they were never controlled by any witches (this happened many years after the whole witch trials ended).

They were put in prison.

Tituba confessed to being a witch and survived the witch trials many who confessed lived.

If you confessed, you remained in prison, but would be pardoned if you agreed to offer testimony about other accused witches.

If accused of being a witch, it’s crucial to remain calm and gather evidence to defend yourself. Seek support from trusted friends or community members who can vouch for your character, and document any incidents or accusations. Consider consulting legal counsel to understand your rights and options, especially if the accusation could lead to legal consequences. Ultimately, focus on maintaining your well-being and sanity during this challenging time.

it started in 1692

some teenage girls ate rye bread that has a poison in it called ergot. the girls were "bewitched" which has symptoms of convulstions, tingly fingers, and halusinations (sp?). ergot poisoning causes halusinations, convulsions and it constricts arteries and you loose blood flow to the extremities (fingers and toes). and, the power of suggestion caused all of Salem to freakk out.

It wasn't as many as they like to make you think it was. It was actually less than 30. <--- Partially true. From June 10th to September 21st, 1692, 20 people were executed, but several people died in jail. Some people were even left in the jails long after the trials, because their families coudn't afford to set them free.

The panic spread to neighboring towns and accusations by people from other towns of people from other towns began. Some non-Salem residents were executed. For example, Martha Carrier was from Andover.

They were tried in court by a panel of judges who were also the jury. The accusers and afflicted pleaded their case against them and they did their best to defend themselves. All the aquittals occured because the judges didn't buy into the accusations anymore.

There weren't any. The girls accused anyone and everyone. Even today we cannot connect all the accused and executed with even a single trait, other that they lived in the wrong county at the wrong time.

They would tie up women that looked a bit like witches and would throw them into water. If they didn't float they were not a witch. some women were left to long in the water and would drown.

pricking them with a needle if they bleed they were innocent but fear draws blood from the skin so they wouldn't bleed

they would be put on a scale and and weighed against 2 huge bibles and if they were heavier they were innocent but remember the bibles are huge.

also they would be thrown into water and if they sunk they were innocent but the human body cant sink

and they would be pushed under water and if they didnt dronw they were are witch because water rejects evil and if they drowned they were innocent ......and dead

young children would be made to make up stories about the witch, the weirder the better as long as it made the women sound bad

Another favourite was to roll them down hills in barrels.,with spikes fitted on the inside,if at the bottom of the hill they were alive,they were burned as witches,if dead,they were innocent!

They stabbed the witch with needles to find the place where no blood flowed, where 'familiars', demons in animal form, fed on the flesh.

The Witch Hunt trials in Salem in 1692 ended with nineteen people tried and hanged as witches. In addition, there are no figures as to how many innocents were tortured and persecuted during the frenzy. In many cases, people were accused for a variety of reasons not confined to witchcraft, such as jealousy and revenge. There was little defense when someone accused you of being a witch and consorting with the Devil in Puritan society.